Stardust Power Joins U.S. Defense Department's Cornerstone Consortium
Catch up on the top industries and stocks that were impacted, or were predicted to be impacted, by the comments, actions and policies of President Donald Trump with this daily recap compiled by The Fly.NOT GOING BACK FOR APPROVAL:President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social, "As President, I do not have to go back to Congress to get approval of Tariffs. It has already been gotten, in many forms, a long time ago! They were also just reaffirmed by the ridiculous and poorly crafted supreme court decision!"REFUND OF DUTIES:FedExhas filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade that seeks a refund for President Trump's emergency tariffs after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the levies were "illegal", Reuters.DOJ CLAIMS:The U.S. Justice Department announced that it has reached a settlement with CarMaxto resolve allegations that CarMax violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act by illegally repossessing motor vehicles owned by members of the military. As part of the settlement, CarMax will pay at least $420,000 in damages to servicemembers and a civil penalty of $79,380 to the United States. The Department alleges that CarMax repossessed servicemember vehicles without obtaining court orders as required by federal law, as well as repossessed some vehicles even after owners told CarMax that they were in military service. CarMax also allegedly failed to extend SCRA protections to reservists who had received orders to report for active duty. In addition to paying a civil penalty and compensation to harmed individuals, CarMax will revise its policies and procedures to ensure that the rights of U.S. servicemembers are protected in the future. The SCRA is a federal law that provides legal and financial protections for servicemembers and their families. The law prevents an auto finance or leasing company from repossessing a servicemember's vehicle without first obtaining a court order, as long as the servicemember made at least one payment on the vehicle before entering military service. For members of a reserve component, the protections begin on the date the member receives orders to military service.PENTAGON DEAL:xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by TeslaCEO Elon Musk, has signed a deal with the Pentagon to allow the U.S. military to use Grok, xAI's model, in classified systems, a Department of Defence official told' Dave Lawler and Maria Curi. Up until now, Anthropic's Claude model has served as the sole model available in the systems on which the Pentagon's most sensitive intelligence work, weapons development, and battlefield operations take place, but the department is threatening Anthropic in a spat over safeguards and may have to find a replacement AI model, the authors note.CORNERSTONE CONSORTIUM:Stardust Powerhas joined the Cornerstone Consortium, a U.S. Department of Defense aligned collaborative framework focused on strengthening the domestic industrial base and securing critical supply chains. The Cornerstone Consortium brings together a broad range of domestically held organizations, including the U.S. Department of Defense, traditional and non-traditional defense contractors, small businesses, private equity firms, academic institutions, and federally funded research and development centers. The consortium supports collaboration across 18 industrial base sectors, including critical minerals & materials, to address capability gaps, supply chain vulnerabilities, and manufacturing resiliency essential to U.S. economic and national security. Stardust Power's participation aligns with Cornerstone's focus on accelerating the research, development, qualification, and integration of critical manufacturing capabilities into U.S. supply chains. As a developer of domestic lithium refining capacity, the Company believes its involvement supports national efforts to reduce reliance on foreign-sourced critical minerals and strengthen the U.S. industrial ecosystem underpinning energy storage, electrification, and defense-adjacent technologies. "Joining the Cornerstone Consortium reinforces our commitment to advancing secure, U.S.-based lithium supply chains that are critical to both economic competitiveness and national security," said Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of Stardust Power. "As we advance our Muskogee refinery toward construction and commissioning, participation in Cornerstone allows us to engage alongside government, industry, and research partners focused on strengthening America's critical minerals and manufacturing base."
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Trump Administration Initiates $166 Billion Tariff Refunds Following Supreme Court Ruling
- Tariff Refund Initiation: The Trump administration is set to initiate $166 billion in tariff refunds following a Supreme Court ruling, impacting over 53 million shipments and potentially alleviating financial pressure on importers.
- Lawsuit Surge: Major U.S. importers, including FedEx, Costco, and UPS, are facing lawsuits from consumers seeking compensation for increased costs due to tariffs, which could negatively affect these companies' market performance.
- Market Reaction: Following the acceptance of tariff refund claims, FedEx shares surged to record highs, gaining 35% year-to-date, while Costco shares also rose 17%, indicating a positive market response to the refund news.
- Retailer Strategies: FedEx has committed to returning tariff refunds to customers, while Costco plans to pass on refunds through lower prices and better values, showcasing differing strategies among retailers in response to tariff pressures.
Costco and FedEx Face Legal Pressure Over Tariff Refunds
- Increase in Legal Suits: With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down a batch of tariffs, billions in tariff refunds are set to flow back to U.S. businesses, leading to legal pressure on Costco and FedEx as consumers argue they should share in these refunds, highlighting market concerns over corporate pricing strategies.
- Refund Application Process: Despite the substantial refund amounts, companies must file claims through a new government system, which has just begun, potentially taking months to process and impacting companies' cash flow and short-term financial performance.
- Strategic Differences Between Costco and FedEx: FedEx has stated it will directly return tariff refunds to customers, while Costco opts for a strategy of lowering prices and enhancing value over time, indicating a divergence that could affect brand perception and competitive positioning in the market.
- Consumer Impact: As businesses may have absorbed some tariff costs or passed them on through higher prices, the question of refund allocation has sparked widespread discussion, likely leading to more lawsuits in the future, which could influence corporate operational strategies and market dynamics.
US Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs, Billions in Refunds Expected
- Refund System Launch: The US Supreme Court's February decision to strike down Trump's IEEPA tariffs is expected to lead to refunds of up to $166-$175 billion for approximately 330,000 importers, requiring businesses to apply through the new CAPE system, indicating government support for importers.
- Simplified Application Process: The CAPE system will process claims via the ACE Portal of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with Phase 1 focusing on straightforward cases, and refunds expected to be issued electronically within 60 to 90 days, enhancing liquidity for businesses.
- Ongoing Trade Dispute: The Trump administration is seeking to reinstate IEEPA tariffs under different legal frameworks, leveraging Sections 122 and 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to increase negotiation leverage, highlighting ongoing trade policy uncertainty.
- Consumer Impact: While some businesses absorbed tariff costs, consumers have no refund mechanism, leading to class action lawsuits against companies like Costco and FedEx; FedEx plans to return refunds to customers, while Costco aims to provide value through lower prices, reflecting differing corporate strategies in response to tariff refunds.
Impact Analysis of Amazon's Deal with USPS
- Rising Shipping Costs: Amazon's plan to cut approximately 20% of packages shipped through USPS, equating to about 200 million packages annually, will lead to higher shipping costs as USPS spreads its fixed costs over fewer packages, particularly impacting rural areas.
- Declining Service Reliability: With Amazon reducing its package volume, USPS may need to raise rates for other customers or cut service levels, resulting in higher shipping costs and unreliable delivery services for rural and small businesses, thus affecting their market competitiveness.
- Unequal E-commerce Experience: According to ShipMatrix data, on-time delivery rates in rural areas are 5% to 7% lower than in urban markets, indicating that if the agreement takes effect, rural consumers will experience worsened e-commerce delivery times and service quality.
- Significant Impact on Small Businesses: Small businesses, which rely on USPS for low-cost shipping, may pass on rising shipping costs through higher prices or delivery fees, putting them at a competitive disadvantage, especially as over 60% of sales on Amazon come from third-party sellers.
Dividend Investors' Safe Strategies Amid Market Challenges
- REIT Performance: Realty Income owns approximately 15,500 single-tenant net-leased properties, with nearly 99% leased, ensuring a steady revenue stream, and has paid monthly dividends since 1994, with an annual payout of about $3.25 per share, yielding 5%, significantly above the S&P 500's 1.1% average.
- Coca-Cola's Transformation: PepsiCo, known as a 'Dividend King' for raising dividends for 54 consecutive years, currently pays a dividend of $5.69 per share with a yield of about 3.6%, and despite health-conscious trends, net revenue grew by 2% in 2025 and nearly 9% in Q1 2026, demonstrating resilience in adversity.
- Brand Integration Challenges: J.M. Smucker, with its portfolio of well-known brands, faces integration challenges from the Hostess Cakes acquisition, with sales not meeting expectations; however, its dividend has increased for 24 straight years, currently at $4.40 per share with a yield of 4.7%, and free cash flow easily covered $348 million in dividend costs for the first three quarters.
- Market Volatility Impact: Although J.M. Smucker's stock has declined over 40% since 2023, its P/E ratio has fallen to 22, still providing a solid investment opportunity for income-seeking investors, indicating the company's strong capability to maintain high-yield dividends.
Realty Income Maintains Steady Dividend Growth
- Consistent Dividend History: Realty Income has paid monthly dividends since 1994, with an annual payout of nearly $3.25 per share and a yield of 5%, significantly above the S&P 500's 1.1%, demonstrating its stability and attractiveness in uncertain markets.
- Strong Cash Flow Support: The company generates $4.25 per share in funds from operations, covering dividend expenses and maintaining a price-to-earnings ratio of 15, indicating that investors can purchase a high-yield stock at a relatively low price, enhancing its appeal.
- Sustainable Growth Potential: Despite market challenges, PepsiCo maintains a 54-year dividend growth streak, with a current payout of $5.69 per share yielding 3.6%, showcasing its resilience underpinned by a diversified product portfolio and stable cash flow.
- Attractive Discount Pricing: J.M. Smucker offers a $4.40 per share dividend with a yield of 4.7%, and despite facing sales pressures, its $672 million in free cash flow easily covers $348 million in dividend expenses, indicating its ongoing capacity for high-yield dividends.
Trump Administration Initiates $166 Billion Tariff Refunds Following Supreme Court Ruling
- Tariff Refund Initiation: The Trump administration is set to initiate $166 billion in tariff refunds following a Supreme Court ruling, impacting over 53 million shipments and potentially alleviating financial pressure on importers.
- Lawsuit Surge: Major U.S. importers, including FedEx, Costco, and UPS, are facing lawsuits from consumers seeking compensation for increased costs due to tariffs, which could negatively affect these companies' market performance.
- Market Reaction: Following the acceptance of tariff refund claims, FedEx shares surged to record highs, gaining 35% year-to-date, while Costco shares also rose 17%, indicating a positive market response to the refund news.
- Retailer Strategies: FedEx has committed to returning tariff refunds to customers, while Costco plans to pass on refunds through lower prices and better values, showcasing differing strategies among retailers in response to tariff pressures.
Costco and FedEx Face Legal Pressure Over Tariff Refunds
- Increase in Legal Suits: With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down a batch of tariffs, billions in tariff refunds are set to flow back to U.S. businesses, leading to legal pressure on Costco and FedEx as consumers argue they should share in these refunds, highlighting market concerns over corporate pricing strategies.
- Refund Application Process: Despite the substantial refund amounts, companies must file claims through a new government system, which has just begun, potentially taking months to process and impacting companies' cash flow and short-term financial performance.
- Strategic Differences Between Costco and FedEx: FedEx has stated it will directly return tariff refunds to customers, while Costco opts for a strategy of lowering prices and enhancing value over time, indicating a divergence that could affect brand perception and competitive positioning in the market.
- Consumer Impact: As businesses may have absorbed some tariff costs or passed them on through higher prices, the question of refund allocation has sparked widespread discussion, likely leading to more lawsuits in the future, which could influence corporate operational strategies and market dynamics.
US Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs, Billions in Refunds Expected
- Refund System Launch: The US Supreme Court's February decision to strike down Trump's IEEPA tariffs is expected to lead to refunds of up to $166-$175 billion for approximately 330,000 importers, requiring businesses to apply through the new CAPE system, indicating government support for importers.
- Simplified Application Process: The CAPE system will process claims via the ACE Portal of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with Phase 1 focusing on straightforward cases, and refunds expected to be issued electronically within 60 to 90 days, enhancing liquidity for businesses.
- Ongoing Trade Dispute: The Trump administration is seeking to reinstate IEEPA tariffs under different legal frameworks, leveraging Sections 122 and 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to increase negotiation leverage, highlighting ongoing trade policy uncertainty.
- Consumer Impact: While some businesses absorbed tariff costs, consumers have no refund mechanism, leading to class action lawsuits against companies like Costco and FedEx; FedEx plans to return refunds to customers, while Costco aims to provide value through lower prices, reflecting differing corporate strategies in response to tariff refunds.
Impact Analysis of Amazon's Deal with USPS
- Rising Shipping Costs: Amazon's plan to cut approximately 20% of packages shipped through USPS, equating to about 200 million packages annually, will lead to higher shipping costs as USPS spreads its fixed costs over fewer packages, particularly impacting rural areas.
- Declining Service Reliability: With Amazon reducing its package volume, USPS may need to raise rates for other customers or cut service levels, resulting in higher shipping costs and unreliable delivery services for rural and small businesses, thus affecting their market competitiveness.
- Unequal E-commerce Experience: According to ShipMatrix data, on-time delivery rates in rural areas are 5% to 7% lower than in urban markets, indicating that if the agreement takes effect, rural consumers will experience worsened e-commerce delivery times and service quality.
- Significant Impact on Small Businesses: Small businesses, which rely on USPS for low-cost shipping, may pass on rising shipping costs through higher prices or delivery fees, putting them at a competitive disadvantage, especially as over 60% of sales on Amazon come from third-party sellers.
Dividend Investors' Safe Strategies Amid Market Challenges
- REIT Performance: Realty Income owns approximately 15,500 single-tenant net-leased properties, with nearly 99% leased, ensuring a steady revenue stream, and has paid monthly dividends since 1994, with an annual payout of about $3.25 per share, yielding 5%, significantly above the S&P 500's 1.1% average.
- Coca-Cola's Transformation: PepsiCo, known as a 'Dividend King' for raising dividends for 54 consecutive years, currently pays a dividend of $5.69 per share with a yield of about 3.6%, and despite health-conscious trends, net revenue grew by 2% in 2025 and nearly 9% in Q1 2026, demonstrating resilience in adversity.
- Brand Integration Challenges: J.M. Smucker, with its portfolio of well-known brands, faces integration challenges from the Hostess Cakes acquisition, with sales not meeting expectations; however, its dividend has increased for 24 straight years, currently at $4.40 per share with a yield of 4.7%, and free cash flow easily covered $348 million in dividend costs for the first three quarters.
- Market Volatility Impact: Although J.M. Smucker's stock has declined over 40% since 2023, its P/E ratio has fallen to 22, still providing a solid investment opportunity for income-seeking investors, indicating the company's strong capability to maintain high-yield dividends.
Realty Income Maintains Steady Dividend Growth
- Consistent Dividend History: Realty Income has paid monthly dividends since 1994, with an annual payout of nearly $3.25 per share and a yield of 5%, significantly above the S&P 500's 1.1%, demonstrating its stability and attractiveness in uncertain markets.
- Strong Cash Flow Support: The company generates $4.25 per share in funds from operations, covering dividend expenses and maintaining a price-to-earnings ratio of 15, indicating that investors can purchase a high-yield stock at a relatively low price, enhancing its appeal.
- Sustainable Growth Potential: Despite market challenges, PepsiCo maintains a 54-year dividend growth streak, with a current payout of $5.69 per share yielding 3.6%, showcasing its resilience underpinned by a diversified product portfolio and stable cash flow.
- Attractive Discount Pricing: J.M. Smucker offers a $4.40 per share dividend with a yield of 4.7%, and despite facing sales pressures, its $672 million in free cash flow easily covers $348 million in dividend expenses, indicating its ongoing capacity for high-yield dividends.
