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Affordability keeps hitting home, and hitting hard, across the country this summer.Inflation-weary Americans once again are looking in disbelief at rising gasoline prices and the eye-popping costs of even the cheapest cuts of beef to toss on their grills.Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh has said very little since taking over as chairman of the Federal Reserve in May. He has, however, repeatedly vowed that the policymakers at the U.S. central bank will focus on price stability, which you and I refer to as — ahem — inflation when we’re in polite company. It’s important to note that Warsh has not said how policymakers will do this. They meet July 28-29 to vote on interest-rate policy, and consensus indicates a nearly 65% chance they’ll hold rates steady. But there are increasing signals that a rate hike as soon as September could be in the hawkish viewpoints of Fed officials.Goldman Sachs Chief U.S. Economist David Mericle said in an email note to TheStreet that although modest interest-rate hikes by the Federal Open Market Committee might signal the Fed’s commitment to lowering inflation, economic research shows this action rarely proves effective “mainly because businesses and consumers — unlike financial market participants — pay little attention to central banks.’’This means the limited one or two interest-rate hikes in the short term touted by some Fed watchers and prediction markets will have very limited impact on curbing price pressures from supply shocks that are preventing the Fed from reaching its own 2% inflation target, the note said. The Fed has missed this metric for the last five years. That message is consistent with Goldman’s estimate that the combined impact of tariffs, the Iran war, and mismeasurement of artificial intelligence accounts for most of the overshoot of 2% for core PCE and all of it for core CPI, the note said.“There is evidence that inflation expectations affect how businesses set prices, and that in experimental settings, providing people with information about the central bank — its target, its inflation forecast, or its policy actions — influences their inflation expectations at least slightly,’’ the note added.Warsh commits to “price stability”“While monthly price fluctuations are inevitable — especially in an unsettled world —underlying inflation over longer time horizons is determined largely by monetary policy,’’ Warsh said in prepared remarks while delivering the Fed’s twice-yearly Monetary Policy Report to Congress July 14-15.The report, issued July 10, said the outlook of the future path of interest rates “is subject to considerable uncertainty.” It also described the U.S. economy as overall “expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East.’’  Warsh repeatedly reminded members of both chambers that the Fed is committed to its dual Congressional mandate: use interest rates and balance-sheet policy to keep prices stable and the labor market at full employment.That’s tricky.Lower interest rates support hiring but can fuel inflation, potentially leading to an inflationary spiral.Higher rates cool prices but can weaken the job market. This increases the cost of borrowing and further stifles economic activity.As I reported, Warsh consistently repeated his pledge that the central bank would work on its “resolute commitment” to restore price stability.

Fed holds interest rates steady thus far this year The rate-setting FOMC voted unanimously in June to hold its benchmark Federal Funds Rate target at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%. But the minutes of the June FOMC meeting showed policymakers splitting their views on inflation risk and the impact on interest rates with a rising hawkish tinge to the “dot plot.”How the Federal Funds Rate impacts youThe funds rate is the interest rate at which banks lend balances at the Federal Reserve to other banks overnight. A change in the funds rate triggers moves in borrowing costs ranging from credit cards to auto loans to even mortgage terms.Related: Warren Buffet delivers powerful 2-word judgment on Fed’s WarshPolicymakers had cut rates by a quarter point at each of their last three meetings of 2025 to shore up the softening labor market. These “insurance” cuts stopped after the majority of policymakers decided the risk from higher prices was outweighing signs that the jobs market was stabilizing.Goldman cites supply shock concerns, rate path June Headline CPI dropped to 3.4% month over month from May’s 4.2% figure. Core inflation stayed flat. The drop was attributed to the reported peace accord of the Iran war that saw the energy shock since February abate. However, in recent weeks, both sides have escalated attacks, and crude oil prices are back on the rise.As of July 24, the widely watched CME Group FedWatch Tool shows financial markets are pricing in higher probabilities of interest-rate hikes for the final months of this year, while expecting a 64.2% probability that rates will remain steady and a 35.8% chance of a quarter-point rate hike. This is a marked change from the week before, which saw a near 90% chance of July rates remaining steady.September shift: Traders now price in a nearly 79% cumulative chance of at least one quarter-point rate hike happening by or during the September FOMC meeting.December tightening: By the end of the year, the CME Group FedWatch Tool leans heavily toward a half-point hike, reflecting sustained inflation concerns.The Goldman note said that a “key lesson of recent years is that the effects of supply shocks on inflation are often large, while the effects of changes in resource utilization are moderate.“In short, there is little reason to think that the limited hikes currently being entertained by the bond market would provide much help in bringing inflation down.“We suspect that most FOMC participants would share this view, though some might also feel that after the pick-up in job growth in recent months, a hike or two probably would not hurt much either.’’Related: Fed’s Warsh drops fresh clues on interest-rate path

Most people build their investing rules out of their own mistakes. You hold something too long, you sell something too early, and you learn what a wash sale is sometime around the first week of April.Nobody hands you the rulebook in advance. You write it after the fact, usually at your own expense.Congress has the opposite arrangement. The people who write the country’s financial rules also decide which of those rules apply to themselves, and for the past 14 years they have landed on the same answer, which is disclose rather than prohibit.That framework dates to 2012 and the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, better known as the STOCK Act, which requires lawmakers to report trades above $1,000 within 45 days. It never barred anyone from trading. It only made the trading visible.Visibility turned congressional portfolios into a spectator sport, then into an investable product. Two exchange-traded funds now exist for the express purpose of mirroring what lawmakers buy.So July 22’s House vote on an actual purchase ban carried more weight than the usual ethics exercise. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) voted against it.

The House passed a congressional stock trading ban 232-198. Pelosi voted no.aimintang / Getty Images

Why the STOCK Act never slowed congressional stock tradingThe 2012 law has an enforcement problem that has never been fixed. No member of Congress has ever been prosecuted under the statute despite documented violations, according to CBS News.That gap is why the disclosure regime turned into a data business instead of a deterrent. Watchdog groups now publish annual scorecards ranking lawmakers against the index, and retail traders build strategies around the 45-day reporting lag.Here is what the most recent full year looked like.Roughly 32% of the 311 disclosed congressional portfolios beat the S&P 500 in 2025, according to Unusual Whales.Pelosi’s portfolio gained 20.1% and ranked 28th in Congress, per Unusual Whales data compiled by Benzinga.Some 86% of registered voters back barring lawmakers from trading individual stocks, according to the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland.Pelosi disclosed up to $6 million in Intel (INTC) and Uber (UBER) call options bought May 29, according to her Periodic Transaction Report.Wednesday’s vote tally was 232 to 198, with 13 Democrats joining every Republican, according to the House Clerk.Pelosi has been the face of this issue for years, and not by choice. She spent the early 2020s defending the status quo before reversing herself in 2022, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent singled her out by name last year while pushing for a single-stock trading ban, TheStreet reported. Her most recent filing showed seven-figure bets on Intel and Uber calls expiring in March 2027, as seen in TheStreet’s coverage. That is the record Republicans wanted voters thinking about.Related: Nancy Pelosi sells $1M of struggling dividend stockWhat the House stock trading ban would actually changeRead the legislation and the picture shifts. H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, would bar members, spouses and dependent children from purchasing individual stocks, and it would require seven to 14 days of public notice before any sale, according to Congress.gov.What it does not do is force anyone to sell. Existing holdings stay exactly where they are, so the Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) positions already sitting in congressional portfolios would survive the ban untouched.More Stock Market:6 high-risk stocks that could be big winnersWorld’s quietest metal just dropped a huge bullish signal3 Tesla shareholders speak out after mixed Q2 earningsRepublicans added two more wrinkles. The bill exempts the president from the trading restriction, and House leadership attached an unrelated voter identification measure to the package before the floor vote.That rider is what most Democrats pointed to. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) called the voter identification provision a “poison pill” during floor debate, according to the Associated Press.Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), who co-leads a bipartisan divestiture bill, argued the package amounts to a “voter suppression bill” dressed up as ethics reform, he told CNN.Republicans framed the outcome as self-protection. Bill sponsor Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) said lawmakers who want to day trade already have somewhere to do it, and that “It’s called Wall Street,” according to Roll Call.Ethics groups were not satisfied either. The Campaign Legal Center urged Congress to reject the measure on the grounds that letting members keep existing stock leaves both the appearance of insider trading and the ability to profit from official position fully intact.When I pulled roll call 280 from the House Clerk’s office, the number that jumped out was not 198. It was zero, the count of shares any sitting member would have been required to sell had the bill become law that afternoon.What the congressional stock ban means for your portfolioNothing changes in your account this month. The measure faces long odds in the Senate, where it would need 60 votes and where Republican leadership has shown little appetite for taking it up, according to NOTUS.So the 45-day disclosure window survives, and so does the copy-trading trade built on top of it. That trade has never been as good as it looks, because you are acting on information that can be six weeks stale before you ever see it.The Democratic-tracking fund NANC returned 20.8% in 2025 against 16.6% for the S&P 500, per Unusual Whales. Respectable, and close to what a concentrated large-cap technology tilt would have delivered with no political signal attached.My analysis of the bill text points to a simpler conclusion. A purchase ban that grandfathers existing positions does not remove the conflict people are angry about. It freezes that conflict in place and hands it a compliance stamp.The proposals that would actually change lawmaker behavior are the divestiture bills, including the Restore Trust in Congress Act, which would require members to sell individual holdings or move them into a blind trust. That measure had 126 House cosponsors as of January, along with a bipartisan Senate companion from Sens. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), according to Gillibrand’s office.None of that reached the floor Wednesday, July 22.Pelosi leaves Congress in January 2027, so whatever passes next will barely touch her remaining tenure. It will govern the members who plan to stay, and the campaign season starting now is where they get asked to explain a vote that reads one way on a scorecard and another way in the statute.Watch the discharge petition rather than the press releases. That is the mechanism that can force a floor vote on the divestiture version over leadership objections, and the signature count is the one number in this fight that shows you who wants the rule to actually bite.Related: Nancy Pelosi places big bets on two surging tech stocks

Although some people might complain about having to pay a membership fee, Costco has one of the most loyal customer bases in retail. The company reported that its U.S. and Canada membership renewal rate reached 92.2%, while the worldwide renewal rate was 89.7%, during its most recent quarter. Those figures show that most members remain committed to the warehouse club, despite growing competition.But even Costco’s biggest fans have long had one major complaint — checkout can be frustrating.The retailer’s massive shopping carts, crowded warehouses, and high-volume shopping trips can create long lines, especially during busy periods. For years, Costco has focused heavily on maintaining low prices and a treasure-hunt shopping experience. But improving convenience has become increasingly important as consumers expect faster and easier transactions.Now, Costco is making changes designed to make the final step of the shopping trip less of a hassle. After rolling out updates aimed at improving the checkout process, the retailer is also expanding its payment options.Costco adds a new way to pay at checkoutCostco has introduced an update to its digital membership card that allows members to add any Visa card to the Costco app and use their phone as a payment method in warehouses. Previously, many shoppers relied on carrying a physical credit card or using the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi.Related: Recalled Costco product poses big threatThe new feature allows members to connect a Visa card directly to their digital membership experience, meaning shoppers can scan their membership card and pay without searching through a wallet or purse. It’s a more efficient — and faster — way to pay.The change addresses a common pain point.Costco shoppers often purchase large quantities of items, meaning that even small delays at the register can create bigger bottlenecks throughout the store. Investing in a faster payment option aligns with Costco’s recent push for a more seamless checkout and digital experience.As CEO Ron Vachris said during the company’s most recent earnings call, “In digital, we are making meaningful strides to deliver a more seamless and convenient experience for our members across the warehouse and online.”

Costco members can now add any Visa card to the Costco app and use their phone as a payment method.Image source: Shutterstock

Why improving checkout and payments matters for CostcoCostco’s membership model gives the company a unique advantage. Unlike traditional retailers, Costco does not need to convince shoppers to return every week through promotions alone. Members have already paid for access, creating a strong incentive for the company to deliver an experience that makes the membership feel worthwhile.More Retail:Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryCostco makes major investment in online shopping for membersBut reducing friction matters.A customer who enjoys Costco’s prices but consistently faces long checkout lines or inconvenient payment options may eventually question whether the shopping experience justifies the effort and up-front membership cost. Making payments faster helps protect one of the company’s biggest assets: member satisfaction.The payment update also fits with Costco’s broader digital strategy. The company has been investing in technology, including a stronger mobile app and digital membership features.For Costco, the goal is not to transform the warehouse into a fully automated shopping experience. Costco’s appeal still comes from walking the aisles and enjoying the treasure hunt. Instead, Costco is looking for ways to remove unnecessary frustrations. And for members, the benefit is simple — less time fumbling at checkout and more time enjoying the savings that keep them coming back.Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.Related: Big changes could be in store for Costco

Quantum computing is one of the most talked-about emerging technology themes on Wall Street right now. The Trump administration revealed plans to invest more than $2 billion into the sector on May 21. Stocks across the space surged. Investors poured in, massively.But Jim Cramer confirmed that he’s not one of them.On the Wednesday, July 22, “Mad Money” Lightning Round, a caller asked about IonQ (IONQ). Cramer’s answer was brief and direct, just like every other day in the Lightning Round.When rates go up, these stocks are very tough to own, so I am going to steer clear of it because I see what the rates are doing, and they’re not going in the right direction.As of this reporting, IONQ is trading at $33.03, down 3.11% on the session, and is down 24.07% year to date against the S&P 500’s 8.22% gain, according to Yahoo Finance. The stock peaked to a $72 high in late May before giving back more than half its value in just under two months.Also Read: Jim Cramer’s Recent StoriesWhy Cramer’s rate argument is the right one for a stock like IonQCramer’s objection is not about IonQ’s technology or even its commercial traction. It is about the macro environment that surrounds any high-growth, deep-loss company with a long runway to profitability.The rate sensitivity argument is specific and well-established in market history. Companies like IonQ, which are burning significant cash today in exchange for future cash flows that remain years away, are valued using long-duration discount models. More Jim Cramer:Jim Cramer says it may be time to trim comeback stock after 441% surgeJim Cramer’s cryptic comments on key AI supplier turn headsJim Cramer says investors are getting the Mag 7 all wrongWhen interest rates rise, those future cash flows get discounted more aggressively, compressing valuations. When rates fall, the reverse happens. The playbook is familiar.Cramer’s read of the current rate environment is cautious. The stock carries an expected full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA loss of $310 million to $330 million on $260 to $270 million in revenue, according to its first quarter 2026 financial results. It means the profitability gap is wide enough that rate sensitivity is a legitimate first-order concern, not a secondary one.What IonQ’s Q1 2026 results actually showedBut there’s something genuinely interesting here because the fundamental momentum inside IonQ is real, even if Cramer is choosing to sidestep the stock on macro grounds.Q1 2026 revenue was $64.7 million, up 755% year over year and 30% above the midpoint of guidance.Remaining performance obligations grew 554% year over year to $470 million.The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $260 million to $270 million, implying organic growth of more than 100% year over year.
Source: IonQ First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Commercial momentum is real. Approximately 60% of revenue came from commercial customers, 35% from international customers, and 35% from multi-product customers, according to the release. IonQ also sold its first sixth-generation, chip-based, 256-qubit system to the University of Cambridge. Related: Jim Cramer gives his two cents about Netflix stockIt was selected for DARPA’s HARQ Program and awarded a $39 million contract under the Space Development Agency’s HALO Program for next-generation tactical space communications.The EPS story is where the market’s concerns surface. Q1 adjusted EPS came in at -$0.34. According to Zacks data, for Q2, the consensus expects -$0.29 per share. Profitability is not on the near-term horizon.

IonQ Q1 2026 revenue was $64.7 million, up 755% year over year and 30% above the midpoint of guidance.Zhou Mu/Xinhua via Getty Images

The May quantum rally that inflated expectations, and the deflation sinceWhat happened in May actually explains a lot of the current setup.The Trump administration on May 21 announced plans to distribute $2.013 billion under the CHIPS and Science Act targeting quantum foundries and computing companies. IonQ was not among the nine named recipients. Yet the stock rallied sharply alongside peers. Why? Investors bought the idea of quantum computing as a national priority rather than picking individual winners within the sector.Related: IonQ stock spikes on massive quantum announcementThat sentiment-driven move carried IONQ to $72 before reality reasserted itself. From the start of June, the stock has given back more than half of that gain in under two months.I find Cramer’s framing of this situation accurate. The May rally was a thematic trade, not a fundamental one. When thematic trades run into a less favorable rate environment and earnings miss EPS estimates, the compression is predictable. IonQ’s Q2 earnings are estimated for Aug. 5. For the stock to rebuild momentum from $33, it either needs a material beat with improved EPS trajectory, or a shift in the rate narrative that makes long-duration growth stocks broadly more attractive again.Looking at it, neither of those is guaranteed in the near term. And that is exactly what Cramer is saying when he steers clear.Related: Jim Cramer reveals 4 surging chip stocks he likes best

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Apple’s Find My iPhone software started as a helpful way to find your lost smartphone, but it’s since evolved into a massive network that can find not only your phone, but also the location of your friends, family, and just about anything else. To begin precisely tracking your physical items, all you need is an Apple AirTag or a tracker from a third-party system that’s supported by Apple. For those, like myself, who frequently lose their belongings, whether it’s their wallet, house keys, or the television remote, the technology is a game changer. How do AirTags and tracking tags work?Apple AirTags were the first tracking tags of their kind. The compact tech, small enough to fit into the pocket of your handbag or luggage, gives users peace of mind that they’ll be able to find these items if they go missing. The small tags connect to your iPhone’s Find My app, and by pulling up the app on your phone, you’ll be able to see the tracker’s real-time location on the map. Apple has since expanded its tracking system and supports select third-party trackers, so you’re not limited to only AirTags, which is great for those who want something more affordable. That being said, AirTags are one of Apple’s most affordable products, and they’re extremely easy to pair with your phone. A single AirTag costs $29 typically, though Amazon currently has it on sale for $27. Considering an AirTag could help find your missing wallet filled with money, at under $30 it’s well worth the investment.Apple AirTag (2nd Generation)

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Check price at AmazonHowever, if you want to stretch your dollar farther, third-party trackers are the way to go. You can get four of the Ugreen FineTrack Air Tracker Tags, which are Apple Find My Certified, for less than the price of a single AirTag. This statement is true when the trackers are available at their original price of $26, but Amazon has a limited-time deal on the devices, bringing the total cost for the four-pack down to only $20 — that’s just $5 per tracking tag. They even have a practical pinging feature, so you can loudly ring them when you’re nearby to better locate your lost gear.Ugreen 4-Pack of FineTrack Air Tracker Tags

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Check price at AmazonFour trackers may seem like more than you need, but there are so many ingenious ways to use these trackers. Before diving into these potential uses, there’s one thing to note: tracking tags that work with the Apple Find My app generally only work for those with an iPhone or iPad. If you have an Android smartphone, you’ll need to find a tracker that supports Android devices, like the Samsung SmartTag2.How to use a tracking tagAs long as you have a way to attach the tracker to an object, you can really use it on anything, but the most popular and practical uses for a tracking tag include:Tracking lost luggage: Adding a tracker to your carry-on luggage or checked suitcase means you can keep an eye on your bags as you travel. In a busy, bustling airport, you could even put a tracker in your child’s backpack to quickly find them if you accidentally get separated. Securing wallets and handbags: Replacing a lost driver’s license and credit cards can be time-consuming and costly, but adding a tag to these items provides an extra layer of protection. Monitoring pets: My dog is an escape artist, and now wears an AirTag on his collar. I am instantly pinged when he goes outside of the normal radius, but I can also view his location on the map if he’s ever out of sight. I wholeheartedly recommend a tracker to any fellow pet owners who have a cat or dog that occasionally likes to cause trouble.  Protecting high-value items: Any expensive or sentimental gear you want to protect could be paired with a tracking tag, whether it’s an electric bike, guitar, or a fancy camera.Finding frequently lost things: Are you constantly losing your car keys or the television remote? A tracker can cut down on the time spent searching for misplaced belongings.More smart tracking tag dealsCoioc Air Tracker Tags

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Check price at AmazonLife360 Tile Slim Wallet Finder

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Check price at AmazonAtuvos Air Tracker Tags

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Check price at AmazonTheStreet Shopping is your guide for shopping insights and advice. We look beyond the price tag to find the best value in home, tech, and wellness gear based on product features and real-world use. Read more about our Editorial Standards and How We Choose Our Shopping Deals.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealOne of the greatest joys that comes with warmer weather is sitting outside on your patio or porch and simply enjoying the vibes. That endeavor is made far easier if you have the right patio furniture. Perhaps the best example of this is how you feel rocking back and forth in a patio swing. If you don’t know the feeling, then maybe you should give it a try. Walmart can help you do that thanks to a deal its offering on a lovely canopied swing.The Aecojoy Stainless Steel Porch Swing is on sale for only $100. That’s 38% off the original price of $160. If there was ever a perfect time to get new patio furniture, this deal would signify that moment.Aecojoy Stainless Steel Porch Swing, $100 (was $160) at Walmart

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Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?Porch swings are an underrated option when it comes to patio furniture, and this model is the perfect example of that. For starters, it includes a large flat sun shade that covers the swing. While swinging in the sun can be nice, it can quickly become uncomfortable on especially warm days. The canvas canopy is water resistant and fully adjustable. It can tip forward and backward depending on where you want to position it in relation to the sun. The high-density fabric repels water and keeps you dry when the rain starts to fall.The seat can fit up to three people comfortably, and the swing has moderate cushioning on both the seat and the back. While it’s soft enough to be comfortable, the swing also offers a reasonable amount of support for those who may have back issues. The cushions could possibly be thicker, but that would likely increase the price, and make them less weather resistant and more susceptible to mildew. Suspended by dual heavy-duty springs, the seat has an impressive weight capacity of 450 pounds. However, the springs aren’t the only example of heavy-duty construction in regards to this swing.The entire frame is made from powder-coated stainless steel. It’s rustproof and corrosion resistant, making the swing an optimal choice for year round use. Exposure to the elements won’t damage this piece like it may do to lesser materials like wicker. There are four anti-slip foot pads to help keep the swing in place, even when in use. Additionally, the swing is available in six colorways. Related: Walmart’s bestselling 2-seat porch swing is on sale for 50% offPros and consProsCanopy: The swing includes a canopy that has the dual benefit of protection from the sun and rain.Construction: The powder coated steel frame offers a stable base for the swing.Weight: A weight capacity of 450 pounds means that you can fit multiple people on the swing without fear of damaging it.Colors: This beautiful piece is available in six color variants, offering plenty of variety for buyers.ConsCushions: Some might prefer that the cushions be thicker, though that would increase the price and likely make them less weather resistant to moisture.Instructions: Some shoppers mention that they would have preferred to have more detailed instructions included for assembly.Walmart shoppers were very happy with the swing. One buyer said they “love it,” adding that it was “exactly what I wanted and I was able to put it together myself…It’s been raining for weeks and there’s no tearing in the seams.” Other reviewers also cited the ease of assembly as a big benefit, though some complained that the instructions were not as thorough as they might have liked. Shop more deals WestinTrends Malibu Outdoor Folding Adirondack Deck Chair, $117 (was $190) at WalmartLavish Home 3-Piece Sectional Patio Set, $422 (was $460) at WalmartMF Studio Wicker Patio Set, $255 (was $510) at WalmartThe Aceojoy Stainless Steel Porch Swing is a great buy at just $100. If you want to swing into summer with a smile on your face and a little extra cash in your bank account, then this deal is the way to go.

General Motors reported strong second-quarter results on Tuesday, July 21, but the stock was caught up in the broader automotive sell-off spurred by Tesla’s own disappointing quarter. GM topped analyst estimates on every level, driven by strong sales from high-margin full-size pickup trucks in North America, the company’s most profitable region. That margin strength was the opposite of what automotive rival Tesla reported in its most recent quarter. But Tesla’s mixed quarter was pulling the entire automotive sector down this week, as the company’s margins were under pressure, despite strong demand that led to record revenue.GM reported second-quarter earnings of $3.57 per share, easily topping analysts’ $3.20 per share expectations. Revenue of $48.03 billion also topped $47.01 billion estimates. GM also raised its EBIT guidance to between $14 billion and $16 billion from its previous view between $13.5 billion and $15.5 billion. It also raised its full-year EPS expectations to between $12 and $14 from between $11.50 and $13.50.Meanwhile, in the second quarter, Tesla reported record revenue of $28.24 billion, a 26% year-over-year increase that topped estimates, but the 33 cents per share it earned on that revenue widely missed Wall Street’s consensus 50 cents per share estimates. Tesla shares fell as low as $320 in trading the day after its earnings release. GM is winning on margins while Tesla faces pressureGeneral Motors credited disciplined pricing for its strong Q2 margins as its 8.6% earnings before interest and taxes in North America grew by two-and-a-half points year over year.But more than that broad explanation, GM CEO Mary Barra also credited a strong product portfolio, growing software and services revenue, lower warranty costs, reduced EV losses, and increased operating efficiency with helping GM improve its margins by 70 basis points over the past three years. “Meanwhile, our broader peer set has seen margin reduction by 400 basis points,” Barra pointed out during the company’s earnings call. “We’ve just continued to perform. At the same time, our operating discipline has been a key driver of the structural improvement in our adjusted automotive free cash flow generation, which has improved from $3 billion-$5 billion annually on average over the last decade, to consistently above $10 billion since 2022.”Demand wasn’t a problem for either GM or Tesla, as the North American market has been surprisingly resilient in the face of persistent inflationary pressure, as well as rising energy prices due to the Iran War.GM understands that eventually those realities will show up on its balance sheet, but it is preparing for that eventuality while also reaping the benefits of the current environment.”We haven’t quantified any of that; we’re going to see some inflationary pressures in the business. I think that’s just to be expected across the board,” Jacobson said. “What we’re really trying to do now is essentially say that many of the things that are allowing us to expand our margins in 2026 are multi-year trajectories, whether it be warranty, EV profitability, or digital revenue growth.”…We still believe that we’ve got a good trajectory of continued margin expansion and continued EBIT growth,” Jacobson said.

jetcityimage / Getty Images

Tesla chases delivery growth at the expense of marginsIt’s hard to get a handle on Tesla’s current position in the market after two asymmetrical quarters.Tesla reported second-quarter revenue of $28.2 billion, a record that topped analyst estimates of $27.6 billion. However, the 33 cents per share the company reported missed estimates from analysts polled by Tesla, who were expecting 55 cents per share.So it seems that as Tesla chased volume, delivering 480,126 vehicles, a 25% increase from the same period a year ago, it sacrificed margins to get there. Net income for the quarter fell 17% to $1.15 billion. Analysts were expecting net income of $1.27 billion.Meanwhile, Tesla’s results from the first quarter were flipped.Tesla missed analyst revenue expectations, reporting $22.39 billion versus analysts’ $22.64 billion, yet earnings of 41 cents per share topped estimates of 37 cents per share.And while margins suffered this quarter, the company did see some growth drivers outside of low-margin auto sales.“Power generation and storage showed steady growth, showing +40% higher revenues and continued acceleration in demand,” Brian Mulberry, chief market strategist at Zacks Investment Management, told TheStreet. “In Q2 2026, Tesla achieved a 25% year-over-year increase in deliveries to 480,126 vehicles, driven by inventory reduction and heavy promotions that, along with a 67% drop in regulatory credits, compressed automotive gross margins (ex-credits) to 16.3%.”Strong demand is the biggest bullish takeaway from the quarter, as inventory improved, falling to 15 days of supply from 27.Related: 3 Tesla shareholders speak out after mixed Q2 earnings

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealIf you are looking for a way to beat the heat this summer, you need a personal fan. The Morecore Portable Misting Fan is available at Amazon for just $13. This fan has it all, from powerful speeds to a cooling mist feature in an under-$20 deal.Amazon shoppers have given this misting fan over 500 perfect ratings, and more than 900 have been purchased in the past month. “This is hands down the most powerful handheld fan I’ve come across,” one reviewer wrote. “It’s compact enough to travel with and feels like a must-have if you’re heading anywhere hot and humid,” they added.Morecore Portable Misting Fan, $13 at Amazon

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Albertsons Companies (ACI) opened Thursday, July 23, at $12.50, more than $2 below Wednesday’s close of $14.60. By midday, the stock traded near $11.38, down about 22% and sitting on a fresh 52-week low of$11.02.Grocery stocks are supposed to be the boring ones. People eat in good times and bad, which is why the sector gets treated as a place to hide when the economy wobbles.Thursday broke that assumption.The company that runs Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, and 19 other banners told investors its shoppers are pulling back, and it cut its profit forecast by roughly 21%.What Albertsons actually reported in the first quarterAccording to Albertsons’ earnings release, the company earned $84.7 million, or 17 cents per share, in the 16 weeks that ended on June 20. That’s down from $236.4 million and 41 cents a year earlier.Adjusted earnings came in at 42 cents per share against 55 cents last year.Revenue barely moved, rising 0.2% to $24.94 billion, and the increase came from fuel sales rather than groceries.Identical sales, which track stores open in both periods, fell 0.8%.That identical sales figure is the one that stung, because it means the same stores sold less food to the same shoppers.

Albertsons said lower-income shoppers are trading down to private label and cheaper proteins, pressuring both units and basket sizes.Cheng Xin / Getty Images

Why the guidance cut hit harder than the earnings missAlbertsons now expects adjusted earnings of $1.75 to $1.85 per share for fiscal 2026, down from $2.22 to $2.32.The midpoint of $1.80 lands well below the $2.27 analysts had predicted, Yahoo Finance reported.Adjusted EBITDA guidance dropped to a range of $3.55 billion to $3.625 billion from $3.85 billion to $3.925 billion.Identical sales guidance flipped from growth of 0% to 1% into a decline of 0.5% to 1.5%.A missed quarter is simply one bad report, but a guidance cut of this size tells investors the company expects the pressure to last through February.The consumer signal buried in the numbersAlbertsons Chief Financial Officer Sharon McCollam gave the detail that matters most on the earnings call.She said the sales decline was sharpest among lower-income customers. Albertsons saw weakness in both the number of items bought and the size of the basket, Yahoo Finance reported.More Retail Stocks:Kroger just shook up the supermarket landscapeKroger stock slide reveals bigger grocery problemKraft Heinz bet inflation peaked, but your cookout bill disagreesChief Executive Susan Morris added that those shoppers are moving to private label, value packaging, and cheaper proteins. She also said Albertsons is losing them mainly to Walmart (WMT), Amazon (AMZN), and Aldi.That is a market-share problem dressed up as a macro problem.Two adjustments soften the headline figure. Pharmacy pricing tied to the Inflation Reduction Act cost about 100 basis points, and egg deflation cost another 50 basis points.Strip those out, and identical sales rose about 0.7%.The stock still fell 22%, which tells you Wall Street cared more about the trajectory than the adjustments.Albertsons is rebuilding its operating structure mid-slumpAlongside the results, Albertsons announced ACI Edge, a restructuring that collapses 11 operating divisions into four regions covering California, the West, the South, and the East.Center-store merchandising, which is the packaged goods that fill the middle aisles, moves under a single enterprise team.Related: Kroger changed its loyalty rewards program, but shoppers need to be waryThe company expects roughly $200 million in annual run-rate benefits, with most arriving in 2027 and about $50 millionin transition costs spread across two years.Morris said the savings will fund price investments rather than flow to the bottom line.She was also specific about what those investments are not. Albertsons is not shifting to everyday low pricing and is not running broad discounts.Instead, the company is targeting particular markets and categories where shoppers compare prices closely.The CFO exit that complicated the earnings releaseAlbertsons disclosed on the same day that McCollam, who joined in 2021 and serves as president and CFO, plans to retire later this year.Morris said Albertsons is searching for her successor and will consider both internal and external candidates.Announcing a turnaround plan, a guidance cut, and a CFO departure in one press release forces investors to consider all three at once. The market’s response was selling.What is actually working inside the businessThe quarter was not entirely weak, and three areas grew.Digital sales rose 13%, with digital penetration reaching nearly 10.5% of the business.E-commerce turned profitable in the quarter, including both first-party and third-party operations.Pharmacy is profitable on a stand-alone basis, with growth in scripts, immunizations, and clinical services.Retail media revenue also grew, helped by new display placements and sponsored product listings inside AI-powered search.The catch is that e-commerce carries a lower gross margin rate than in-store grocery, so growth there dilutes company margins, even while adding profit dollars. Gross margin fell to 26.6% from 27.1%, driven largely by delivery and handling costs.Where Wall Street stood going into the reportAnalysts were already cautious. Before Thursday, eight analysts carried an average target of $17.43.Morgan Stanley’s Simeon Gutman held a sell rating with a $14 target as of July 16, while Telsey Advisory’s Joe Feldman maintained a buy with a $22 target on July 17.JP Morgan trimmed its target to $20from $22 on June 30 while keeping an overweight rating, GuruFocus noted.Every one of those targets was set against guidance that no longer exists, so expect revisions in the coming days.What investors should watch from hereACI now trades below every published analyst target, including Morgan Stanley’s Street-low $14. However, that does not make it cheap, because the earnings base underneath it just moved.4 things need to happen before the Albertsons bullish case works:Identical sales turn positive on a reported basis, not just after adjusting for pharmacy and eggs.The $200 million in ACI Edge savings shows up on schedule in 2027.Price investments win back lower-income traffic, rather than simply lowering margins.A permanent CFO is named who can defend the new guidance.Albertsons will pay its next quarterly dividend of 17 cents per share on Aug. 7. The company also bought back13.4 million shares for $226.5 million during the quarter, part of a $2.0 billion buyback plan.Those returns are funded from a shrinking profit base, and the net debt ratio has climbed to 2.33 from 1.96 a year ago.For shoppers, the price cuts Albertsons described should show up on shelves in specific categories over the coming months. For investors, the next real test is the second-quarter report, when management has to show whether shoppers keep buying cheaper options or start spending normally again.Related: Amazon has one weakness Walmart is quietly using against it

Are autonomous vehicles like Waymo really safer than human drivers?That’s the question some of the biggest tech companies in the world are investing billions of dollars to answer. Alphabet owns Waymo, Amazon owns Zoox, and Tesla has its own Robotaxi division.The advantages robots have over human drivers are apparent. Robotaxis don’t drink and drive, don’t drive while tired, don’t drive distracted, and don’t get vengeful when someone cuts them off.Half of U.S. states reported discernible blood alcohol concentration for at least 70% of fatally injured passenger-vehicle drivers in 2023, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). So it’s clear that eliminating drunken driving would significantly improve road safety. And clearing the roads of people whose driving ability is impaired for other reasons puts us well on our way to a transportation utopia.On the other hand, driverless vehicles have displayed some disturbing patterns as they accumulate more miles on the road, leading to some awkward interactions with human drivers and even some dangerous situations with children and pedestrians.So the IIHS conducted a study to find out once and for all: Is Waymo safer than human drivers?Waymo cars were involved in nearly 70% fewer crashes than humansWaymo driverless vehicles deployed in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin were involved in 68% fewer crashes than human drivers per vehicle mile traveled (VMT), according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.“The results show that, on a limited scale, these driverless cars are safer than human drivers — who can be impaired or drowsy or suffer lapses in attention,” IIHS President David Harkey said.Researchers estimated that only 22% of the 736 public-road crashes in which automation was engaged between 2021 and 2024 were likely police-reportable, including 89 crashes involving Waymo vehicles. Waymo’s crash involvement was 76% lower in Phoenix, 35% lower in San Francisco, and 71% lower in Los Angeles, but was 4% higher in Austin, though the sample size there was relatively small.Waymo vehicles were involved in 85% fewer single-vehicle crashes and 81% fewer injury crashes per VMT.But before futurists declare the discussion about safety over, the study came with a major caveat: “However, the present data collection system isn’t good enough to allow continuous monitoring of a large-scale expansion.”The data used in the study go back to 2021, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began requiring self-driving cars on public roads to report crash involvements that result in fatalities, injuries, or property damage of any severity.But while companies are required to report crash data, they are not obligated to report the miles they log or whether such miles involved a human driver. Waymo provides that information voluntarily, but its competitors do not, making a holistic assessment impossible. “Even with the mileage data that Waymo provides, a direct comparison with the crash rates of humans is impossible without time-consuming operations to account for the differences between the reports required by the SGO and what humans report,” the IIHS said. Meanwhile, human drivers are not required to report crashes that result in no injuries or less than $1,000 in property damage to the police. According to IIHS, about half of all crashes and a third of injury crashes by humans go unreported. Waymo says that the IIHS report validates the company’s own analysis of the first 56.7 million miles of fully autonomous driving under its belt. Waymo’s own number showed its vehicles were involved in 79% fewer injury crashes compared to human drivers. “We welcome this new research from IIHS, which confirms our previous peer-reviewed analyses and reinforces the significant safety benefits of the Waymo Driver,” a Waymo spokesperson told TheStreet. “We also support the authors’ recommendation for more robust reporting requirements for AV operators — requirements that Waymo already voluntarily meets.”

A new IIHS study noted that the present data collection system isn’t good enough to draw firm conclusions on the safety of autonomous vehicles versus human drivers.Josep LAGO / AFP via Getty Images

U.S. senators question Tesla FSD safety dataIn May, Reuters reported that Tesla was exaggerating its safety claims for FSD and that it is using a team of “data labelers” to help improve the AI that powers FSD.Based on this revelation, Elon Musk’s declaration that FSD is already up to 10 times safer than human drivers and ready for more widespread adoption may ring hollow.So Senators Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Administration saying the Reuters report exposes “dangerous gaps” in its autonomous vehicle data collection.“Tesla has repeatedly told investors, consumers, and the public that FSD is far safer than human driving, but the data analysis justifying those claims is weak and misleading. These representations are not merely marketing claims; they may shape how drivers use Tesla’s FSD, how the public understands the risks of the technology, and how regulators evaluate potential safety defects,” the letter stated.According to the letter, Tesla’s data justifying the “10 times safer” claim is flawed for several reasons, including:Comparing unlike crash outcomes that made Tesla look betterComparing newer Tesla vehicles to the entire U.S. vehicle fleetCounting FSD-involved crashes only if it is active at the time of crash or within five seconds. The NHTSA uses a 30-second time threshold for all ADAS systemsRelying on incomplete automated telemetryTesla is cooking the books, according to the senators, and the NHTSA has not been able to get the real data it needs, which makes the whole situation more dangerous for drivers.“The push to allow more autonomous vehicles on public roads depends heavily on the claim that these driving systems are safer than human drivers,” the letter stated.“To the extent that Tesla or other vehicle manufacturers are misleading the public about their safety data, however, consumers may choose to purchase or ride in an AV based on the unproven expectation that they are safer than non-autonomous vehicles. This type of information asymmetry is a classic market failure, which will likely result in more AVs on the road — and potentially more traffic injuries and fatalities if those systems are not in fact as safe as they claimed.”Currently, the NHTSA does not require vehicle manufacturers to submit data on the number of vehicles they operate, the distances they travel, and other data that could help contextualize crash rates.They say that is the type of data that “would help prove or disprove Tesla’s safety claims.”For this reason, the senators are asking the agency to “significantly expand autonomous vehicle data reporting requirements.”Related: Waymo shows it learned critical lesson from previous blackouts