Investors focusing on ways to play a slowdown in consumer spending as tariff impact begins
(This is a wrap-up of the key money moving discussions on CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange" exclusive for PRO subscribers. Worldwide Exchange airs at 5 a.m. ET each day.) Investors are looking for ways to play the tariff uncertainty. Also a look into the quantum computing space with a start-up with high profile customers like Nvidia and JPMorgan. Worldwide Exchange Pick: TJX Nimrit Kang of NorthStar Asset management said off-price retailer TJX is a smart way to play the tariff uncertainty and a potential slowdown in consumer spending. "The consumer is feeling the pain, the consumer across every single demographic across every household level is continuing to look for value, that's where a model like TJX really shines," said Kang on Worldwide Exchange. On Monday, Jim Cramer called TJX an 'anomaly' and a 'bargain'. JPMorgan raised its price target for the discount retailer to $145 from $130 on Monday as well. Insight into quantum computing Dr. Rajeeb Hazra CEO of Quantinuum, a spin-off from Honeywell says there are enterprise uses for quantum computing technology today for its customers like Nvidia, JPMorgan and BMW. "Quantum computers generate data about processes that are commonplace, but we cannot model them very effectively with classic compute. What it does is it takes generative AI, this tremendous engine, and gives it the training that it needs to solve problems from discovering a new material, whether it's discovering a new drug , whether it is actually coming up with a solution to an optimization problem," said Hazra on Worldwide Exchange. Quantinuum is a private company with a roughly $5 billion valuation, however quantum stocks have outperformed the market over the last month. Trading the Tariff Uncertainty Malcom Ethridge of Capital Area Planning Group says he's trimming investments in consumer focused stocks. "I prefer to own things that are based on business spend and enterprise spend versus relying on the consumer. A company who buys from Microsoft or Alphabet is going to be much more long term focused and less reactive to tariffs," Ethridge said to CNBC. He added he would look to take profits on a stock like Walmart that has seen strong gains in 2025 and is dependent on consumer spending. Watching the Dollar The Dollar index has fallen more than 5% since April 2 tariffs were announced. Phil Streible of Blue Line Futures says the so-called 'Sell America' trade remains in place in the currency market. "We see great strength in the Euro, the British Pound, Swiss Franc and even the Australian dollar is starting to perform to the upside, it seems there is a lot of repatriation going on where you are seeing other economies doing well from a weaker dollar," Streible said to CNBC.
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