Trump Tariffs Roil Semiconductor, Mineral Stocks: Billionaire Dan Loeb's Portfolio Faces Grueling Test
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 16 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
New Body Established: President Trump created a new entity within the Commerce Department to oversee the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which supports companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Amidst rising tariffs on Chinese imports, the administration has excluded certain technology products from these tariffs.
Hedge Fund Performance: Hedge fund manager Dan Loeb's semiconductor and mineral stocks have seen significant declines year-to-date, with notable drops in shares of NET Power Inc. and Taiwan Semiconductor, while his holdings in Carpenter Technology Corporation increased despite overall market downturns.
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Analyst Views on CRS
Wall Street analysts forecast CRS stock price to rise
6 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 369.700
Low
365.00
Averages
389.67
High
425.00
Current: 369.700
Low
365.00
Averages
389.67
High
425.00
About CRS
Carpenter Technology Corporation is engaged in the manufacturing, fabrication and distribution of specialty metals. The Company operates in two segments: Specialty Alloys Operations (SAO) and Performance Engineered Products (PEP). The SAO segment comprises its premium alloy and stainless-steel manufacturing operations. This includes operations performed at mills primarily in Reading and Latrobe, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas, as well as South Carolina and Alabama. The PEP segment comprises its differentiated operations. This segment includes the Dynamet titanium business, the Carpenter Additive business and the Latrobe and Mexico distribution businesses. It provides specialty alloy-based materials and process solutions for critical applications in the aerospace, defense, medical, transportation, energy, industrial and consumer markets. The Company operates its own network of service and distribution centers, located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Stock Performance: As of February 9, 2026, Shift4 Payments shares were priced at $58.61, reflecting a 52.1% decline over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 67.15 percentage points, raising concerns about its future outlook.
- Company Overview: Shift4 Payments specializes in payment processing and commerce-enabling software, serving various sectors including hospitality and eCommerce; despite a 22% revenue growth year-over-year in the first nine months of 2025, it faces intense competition and uncertainty.
- Management Transition Impact: Following founder Jared Isaacman's resignation, Shift4 Payments is undergoing a leadership transition, and while new CEO Taylor Lauber may drive growth, market sentiment remains cautious regarding the company's future performance.
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1492 Capital Fully Exits Shift4 Payments Stake
- Share Sale Details: On February 10, 2026, 1492 Capital Management disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold its entire holding of 61,345 shares in Shift4 Payments during Q4, with an estimated transaction value of $4.75 million, indicating a $4.75 million decline in the company's stake value during this period.
- Impact on Holdings: Prior to the sale, Shift4 Payments accounted for 1.9% of 1492 Capital's AUM, and following the divestment, the fund holds no shares, reflecting concerns about the company's future prospects amid ongoing market challenges.
- Market Competition Pressure: Although Shift4 carved out a lucrative niche in the hospitality fintech sector, its stock has struggled in a highly competitive environment, particularly following the resignation of its founder, which likely influenced 1492 Capital's decision to exit its position.
- Future Growth Expectations: Despite analysts forecasting a slowdown in revenue growth to 25% in 2026, the anticipated 35% growth for 2025 and a relatively low 28 P/E ratio for a rapidly growing stock suggest a complex market perception regarding Shift4's future potential.
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- Strong Market Demand: Aerospace and defense bookings increased by 8% sequentially, with commercial aerospace bookings up 23%, indicating sustained demand in key markets that is expected to further drive revenue growth in the future.
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- Stake Change: 1492 Capital Management completely sold its 61,345 shares in Shift4 Payments during Q4 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $4.75 million, indicating a strategic exit amid declining stock performance.
- Stock Performance: As of February 9, 2026, Shift4 Payments shares were priced at $58.61, reflecting a 52.1% decline over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 67.15 percentage points, raising concerns about its future outlook.
- Company Overview: Shift4 Payments specializes in payment processing and commerce-enabling software, serving various sectors including hospitality and eCommerce; despite a 22% revenue growth year-over-year in the first nine months of 2025, it faces intense competition and uncertainty.
- Management Transition Impact: Following founder Jared Isaacman's resignation, Shift4 Payments is undergoing a leadership transition, and while new CEO Taylor Lauber may drive growth, market sentiment remains cautious regarding the company's future performance.
See More
1492 Capital Fully Exits Shift4 Payments Stake
- Share Sale Details: On February 10, 2026, 1492 Capital Management disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold its entire holding of 61,345 shares in Shift4 Payments during Q4, with an estimated transaction value of $4.75 million, indicating a $4.75 million decline in the company's stake value during this period.
- Impact on Holdings: Prior to the sale, Shift4 Payments accounted for 1.9% of 1492 Capital's AUM, and following the divestment, the fund holds no shares, reflecting concerns about the company's future prospects amid ongoing market challenges.
- Market Competition Pressure: Although Shift4 carved out a lucrative niche in the hospitality fintech sector, its stock has struggled in a highly competitive environment, particularly following the resignation of its founder, which likely influenced 1492 Capital's decision to exit its position.
- Future Growth Expectations: Despite analysts forecasting a slowdown in revenue growth to 25% in 2026, the anticipated 35% growth for 2025 and a relatively low 28 P/E ratio for a rapidly growing stock suggest a complex market perception regarding Shift4's future potential.
See More
Mullin's Small-Cap Stock Investments Update
- Stock Purchase Overview: On January 5, 2026, Mullin disclosed purchases of 10 stocks, each ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, indicating his ongoing interest in small and mid-cap stocks, with most having market capitalizations below $20 billion.
- Small-Cap Characteristics: Notably, two of these stocks have market caps under $5 billion, reinforcing Mullin's preference for smaller stocks, which could influence his decisions on the Armed Services Committee, particularly regarding future government contracts.
- Historical Trade Review: Prior to this, on December 29, 2025, Mullin bought six of the Magnificent Seven stocks, investing at least $50,000, highlighting his preference for tech stocks, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) being the largest investment.
- Potential Conflict of Interest: Given Mullin's role on the Armed Services Committee, Benzinga will closely monitor his future stock trades, especially concerning potential conflicts arising from military actions in countries like Venezuela.
See More
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- Gold Price Surge: SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) surged over 6%, surpassing $4,950 per ounce, marking its strongest trading day since November 2008, primarily due to easing concerns over tighter Federal Reserve policies.
- Silver's Strong Rebound: Silver prices climbed nearly 9% to $86, recovering from a more than 30% plunge over the previous two sessions, indicating a resurgence in demand for precious metals that may attract more investors.
- Energy Market Reaction: Crude oil rose 1.8% to $63 a barrel after U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone near a Navy aircraft carrier, reflecting the impact of geopolitical tensions on energy markets.
- Tech Stocks Underperform: The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF fell 4.8%, marking its fifth consecutive daily decline, indicating waning market confidence in technology stocks, particularly in the software sector.
See More
DaVita Reports Strong Q4 Earnings, Shares Surge 21.7%
- Strong Earnings Report: DaVita's Q4 earnings per share of $3.40 exceeded analyst expectations of $3.16, demonstrating robust profitability that enhances market confidence in the company's future performance.
- Sales Beat Estimates: The company reported quarterly sales of $3.620 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus of $3.497 billion, indicating strong competitive positioning and a rebound in customer demand that is expected to drive future revenue growth.
- Significant Stock Surge: DaVita's shares jumped 21.7% to $135.26 on Tuesday, reflecting a positive investor reaction to the financial results, which may attract further institutional interest in the stock.
- Price Target Increase: Barclays raised its price target for DaVita from $143 to $158, indicating analysts' optimistic outlook on the company's growth potential, which could further propel the stock price upward.
See More
Carpenter Technology Reports Record Q2 Earnings Driven by Aerospace Demand
- Record Quarterly Earnings: Carpenter Technology reported a record operating income of $155 million for Q2, a 31% year-over-year increase, with SAO segment operating income reaching a record $174.6 million, highlighting significant profitability growth amid strong aerospace and defense demand.
- Strong Market Demand: Aerospace and defense bookings increased by 8% sequentially, with commercial aerospace bookings up 23%, indicating sustained demand in key markets that is expected to further drive revenue growth in the future.
- Cash Flow and Share Buybacks: The company generated $132.2 million in operating cash flow and $85.9 million in adjusted free cash flow, repurchasing $32.1 million in stock during the quarter, which enhanced liquidity to $730.8 million, providing ample funding for future investments.
- Upgraded Full-Year Guidance: Carpenter raised its fiscal 2026 operating income outlook to $680 million to $700 million, reflecting an optimistic view on future market demand, particularly in the aerospace sector, which is expected to continue its growth trajectory.
See More
