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House Republican calls for third Trump term over passage of ‘historic' tax bill

House Republican calls for third Trump term over passage of ‘historic' tax bill

Fox News03-07-2025
A key House ally of President Donald Trump is calling for the Republican leader to be eligible for a third White House term over passage of his "big, beautiful bill."
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., also called for Trump to be added to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
"I was at the White House with President Trump for several hours yesterday and spent countless hours whipping votes with Speaker Johnson for the One Big Beautiful Bill. This historic legislation will unleash our economy and usher in a new golden age for America," Ogles told Fox News Digital after the bill passed.
"Thanks to President Trump, we're finally reversing the damage caused by Big Government and Democrat cronies. Wins like this are exactly why he deserves serious consideration for a third term—AND why so many believe he belongs on Mt. Rushmore."
Ogles had previously introduced a resolution to give Trump the ability to run for a third term as president.
He was also seen at the White House in the lead-up to the last step of Congress advancing Trump's massive tax and immigration bill. Ogles was also present on the House floor during tense negotiations on the bill, speaking to both Republican holdouts and House leaders at times.
The legislation narrowly passed on Thursday afternoon after a marathon session in the House of Representatives that began with a House Rules Committee meeting to advance it at 1:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, which ended nearly 12 hours later on Wednesday morning.
House lawmakers then met to debate the bill at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, though those proceedings were delayed for hours as House GOP leaders – and Trump himself – worked to persuade critics behind closed doors.
The bill numbers more than 900 pages and advances Trump's agenda on taxes, the border, defense, energy, and the national debt.
The bill would permanently extend the income tax brackets lowered by Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), while temporarily adding new tax deductions to eliminate duties on tipped and overtime wages up to certain caps. It also includes a new tax deduction for people aged 65 and over.
The legislation also rolls back green energy tax credits implemented under former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which Trump and his allies have attacked as "the Green New Scam."
The bill would also surge money toward the national defense, and to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the name of Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants in the U.S.
The bill would also raise the debt limit by $5 trillion in order to avoid a potentially economically devastating credit default sometime this summer, if the U.S. runs out of cash to pay its obligations.
New and expanded work requirements would be implemented for Medicaid and federal food assistance, respectively.
Democrats have blasted the bill as a tax giveaway to the wealthy while cutting federal benefits for working-class Americans.
But Republicans have said their tax provisions are targeted toward the working and middle classes – citing measures eliminating taxes on tipped and overtime wages – while arguing they were reforming federal welfare programs to work better for those who truly need them.
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Earnings live: Intel to cut 15% of workforce, Deckers stock soars as profits surge
Earnings live: Intel to cut 15% of workforce, Deckers stock soars as profits surge

Yahoo

time28 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Earnings live: Intel to cut 15% of workforce, Deckers stock soars as profits surge

Second quarter earnings season is in full swing, and the results have been largely positive so far, with more positive surprises than negative ones. Companies had a lower bar to clear coming into the quarter, as analysts tempered their expectations amid President Trump's tariffs, stocks' lofty valuations, and uncertainty about the health of the US economy. This week, investors will get a glimpse of how corporate leaders are navigating these challenges, with 112 S&P 500 companies reporting results, including GM (GM), Coca-Cola (KO), Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG), and Tesla (TSLA). Data from FactSet published Friday showed that with 12% of the index having reported results, analysts now expect S&P 500 companies to report a 5.6% jump in earnings per share during the second quarter. Heading into the quarter, analysts expected S&P 500 earnings to rise 5% in Q2, which would mark the slowest pace of earnings growth since the fourth quarter of 2023. Here are the latest updates from corporate America. Deckers stock soars after Hoka, Ugg sales surge Hoka sneakers and Ugg brand shoes boosted Deckers (DECK) sales and profits last quarter, sending shares up more than 14% after hours. On Thursday, Deckers reported net sales grew 17% to $964.5 million, above estimates of $901.4 million, per Bloomberg data. Profits surged 24%, with diluted earnings per share coming in at $0.93. "HOKA and UGG outperformed our first quarter expectations, with robust growth delivering solid results to begin fiscal year 2026," CEO Stefano Caroti said in a press release. "Though uncertainty remains elevated in the global trade environment, our confidence in our brands has not changed, and the long-term opportunities ahead are significant. We will lean on the fundamental strengths of our powerful operating model as we continue executing our strategy." The main story for the quarter was Deckers' international business: International net sales rose 49.7%, offsetting a 2.8% decline in domestic sales. The company expects net sales for the current quarter in the range of $1.38 billion to $1.42 billion, in line with analyst estimates. Earnings are expected to be in the range of $1.50 to $1.55 per share. Read more here. Intel stock rises on Q2 revenue beat, plans to cut 15% of workforce Intel (INTC) second quarter revenue beat analyst estimates, but its earnings fell short of expectations. The chip giant also said it is slashing its workforce by 15% and expects to have approximately 75,000 employees by the end of the year. Intel's new CEO Lip-Bu Tan has already undertaken or is exploring several cost-cutting measures. According to The Oregonian, the company is shuttering its automotive business, outsourcing marketing jobs, and laying off factory workers. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley has more details on Intel's results: Read more here. Intel to report Q2 earnings as Wall Street looks for signs of turnaround Intel (INTC) will report its second quarter earnings on Thursday as the company's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, continues his attempt to turn around the ailing chip giant. Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley details what to expect when Intel reports: Read more here. Southwest CFO says decision to lower guidance by $1 billion was 'macro-driven' Southwest (LUV) stock tanked on Thursday after the airline's earnings results missed estimates. Shares fell over 12% as the earnings call with investors began. (You can listen to the full call here.) Earlier on Thursday, Southwest CFO Tom Doxey told Yahoo Finance that the company's disappointing results were primarily caused by broader economic challenges, tariff uncertainty, and weaker consumer sentiment. Doxey confirmed that Southwest lowered its full-year pre-tax profit (EBIT) guidance to $600 million-$800 million from the $1.7 billion forecast previously. 'There's an estimate of about $800 million to $1 billion in revenue degradation that has occurred as a result of the macro,' Doxey said. 'The number is large, but it is macro-driven.' He said that Southwest's domestic travel revenue outperformed peers. But the overall domestic segment underperformed international and premium travel, which are the strengths of other airlines like Delta (DAL) and United (UAL). Southwest's second quarter got off to a rocky start as consumer confidence plummeted to a three-year low after President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement in April. That translated to lower travel demand at the beginning of the peak summer season. However, things are improving, Doxey said. 'Demand fell off quite quickly during that period,' he noted. 'The great news is we're starting to see that stabilize.' Blackstone assets under management surge, COO says dealmaking pause 'is behind us' Blackstone (BX) surprised Wall Street analysts on Thursday when it reported its assets under management surged 13% to a record $1.21 trillion. Profits also rose 72% to $764 million, compared to the second quarter of last year, sending shares nearly 5% higher in early trading. Notably, Blackstone's No. 2 echoed other big banks in the company's earnings call in saying that the dealmaking pause is behind us. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports: Read more here. Alphabet in 'AI (beast) mode': 5 takeaways from Google's earnings call Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) shares rose in early trading as investor sentiment grew positive on the stock following its bullish earnings call commentary and strong Q2 results. And my colleague Brian Sozzi jotted down some takeaways from the earnings call that help explain the bullish mood today: Sozzi noted that, in many ways, it's surprising that Alphabet stock is up just 1.5% this morning, as it's trading at only 19.3 times forward earnings on a PE basis (S&P 500 is at 24 times). Several Wall Street analysts agreed. "AI (beast) mode — it's time to close the valuation gap," KeyBanc analyst Justin Patterson said. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives added, "We continue see a favorable risk/reward for Alphabet and think there is a case for multiple expansion in the coming quarters as investors gain more comfort around the current macro environment, regulatory risk, and the impact of generative AI on the business." Read more takeaways from Google's earnings call here. Uptick in coal shipments boosts Union Pacific earnings Union Pacific (UNP) second quarter profits exceeded Wall Street's expectations, driven by operational improvements, higher freight volumes, and improved pricing. The stock fell 2% ahead of the opening bell Thursday. The economic bellwether saw an uptick in coal shipment volumes in the second quarter, as well as in shipments of grain products and industrial chemicals. The improvement in coal shipments stood out after President Trump signed executive orders boosting the industry, which has been a weak spot for railroad operators. Union Pacific confirmed that it is in talks with Norfolk Southern (NSC) on a possible merger that would reshape the US's railroad industry. The magnitude of a combination of the railroad operators would put the deal under close regulatory and antitrust scrutiny. Here's what Union Pacific reported in Q2, per Reuters: Read more here. American Airlines restores 2025 forecast, flags economic worries for keeping it broad American Airlines (AAL) maintained a broad 2025 forecast on Thursday, citing economic uncertainty, with one of the outcomes being a loss to profit. The carrier's shares fell 6% before the bell. The airline is facing challenges in the domestic travel market, where travel spending remains weak due to US tariffs and budget cuts. Reuters reports: Read more here. Honeywell beats on earnings, raises 2025 forecasts on sustained demand for aerospace parts, services Honeywell (HON) stock fell premarket despite reporting an earnings beat and guidance raise. Adjusted earnings per share of $2.75 exceeded Wall Street's estimates of $2.66 per share. Sales hit the top end of the company's guidance at $10.4 billion, compared to estimates of $10.1 billion. Strong demand for aerospace parts and maintenance services lifted Honeywell's results as it prepares to split into three companies. The company's aerospace division, its biggest revenue generator, posted a 10.7% jump in sales to $4.31 billion in the second quarter, as the Boeing (BA) and Airbus ( supplier benefited from rising demand and a shortage of new jets. Honeywell raised its revenue outlook and now expects between $40.8 billion and $41.3 billion for the year, up from the $39.6 billion and $40.5 billion it had previously forecast. It also sees 2025 adjusted profit per share between $10.45 and $10.65, up from its previous forecast of $10.20 to $10.50. Read more here from Reuters. Keurig Dr. Pepper earnings beat estimates as energy drinks shine, but coffee inflation lurks Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Tesla stock takes a leg down during earnings call Tesla (TSLA) stock took a firm leg down during the company's quarterly earnings call on Wednesday as the company's CFO warned of "adverse impacts" from the "big bill" President Trump recently signed into law. Notably, the bill takes aim at two key tax credits that Tesla has taken advantage of to scale its company: the electric-vehicle tax credit and the solar tax credit. "The big bill has certain adverse impacts, even for the energy business," Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja. "We're doing our best to manage through this," he added. "But we will see shifts in demand and profitability." He said tariff costs increased to around $300 million this quarter. Tesla was down as much as 3.5% after seesawing between green and red right after the release of its earnings report — which you can see more details of by continuing to scroll. Also on the call, CEO Elon Musk predicted Tesla would "have autonomous ride-hailing reach half the population of the US by the end of the year." "That's at least our goal, subject to regulatory approvals," he added. Chart: Chipotle foot traffic declines for second straight quarter Chipotle (CMG) stock tanked 9% following second quarter results and as the earnings call began (listen to the live call here). As the chart below shows, foot traffic fell more than expected, accelerating the slowdown in traffic that began in the first quarter. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that overall foot traffic fell 4.9% against the 4.4% drop that had been forecast by the Street. Chipotle cut its guidance and said it expects same-store sales to be flat for the full year. On the earnings call, CEO Scott Boatwright highlighted initiatives — in marketing, the value proposition, menu innovation, and a revamped rewards program — aimed at jump-starting sales. But Boatwright acknowledged that the fast-casual chain is facing a slowdown in trends and one of the most challenging consumer backdrops in years. Southwest misses profit expectations as weak domestic demand erodes fares Southwest Airlines (LUV) missed Wall Street estimates for second quarter profit on Wednesday as a sluggish start to the peak summer travel season has translated to weak domestic travel demand and softer fares. Southwest reported operating revenue of $7.24 billion in the quarter through June, compared with $7.35 billion a year earlier. The budget carrier reported an adjusted profit per share of $0.43, compared with analysts' average expectations of $0.51, according to data compiled by LSEG. While Delta Air Lines (DAL) and United Airlines (UAL) were buoyed by more affluent customers, low-cost carriers like Southwest have noted their price-sensitive customers are coming under pressure. Still, airline executives and analysts have signaled that travel demand has remained broadly steady. Read more from Reuters. Wall Street looks to Google's earnings call for details on higher-than-expected capex number Alphabet (GOOG) earnings indicated solid growth across the business, but it was the capital expenditures number that was "a bit concerning," according to Roundhill Investments CEO Dave Mazza. Google said capital expenditures will climb to $85 billion; it previously projected $75 billion. On the earnings call, investors will be looking for answers on where that spending is going. Rohit Kulkarni, senior research analyst at ROTH MKM, also weighed in on the initial Street reaction to Google's earnings. "Fundamentally, I think we're seeing acceleration in revenues in a very large company," Kulkarni said. "Google Search is accelerating. YouTube growth has accelerated. Google Cloud has accelerated, and even subscriptions have accelerated." "Having said that," Kulkarni added, "I think the stock reaction here is a knee-jerk reaction about where are you going to spend those extra $10 billion and what is the ROI that you're seeing from the existing spend? That's a sentiment that probably drives a lot of other megacaps, in my opinion." Google's earnings call is live now. You can listen in here. Mattel stock falls after the toymaker posts steeper sales decline than expected Mattel (MAT) posted a bigger-than-expected drop in second quarter revenue on Wednesday as cautious inventory planning by retailers amid global trade uncertainties weighed on demand, per Reuters. Barbie sales in North America were weak during the quarter, with worldwide gross billings for dolls declining 19%. The infant, toddler, and preschool category, which includes Fisher-Price, Baby Gear, and Power Wheels brands logged a 25% drop. The toymaker, which also sells popular brands such as Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and Uno, did reinstate its 2025 sales and profit forecast after pulling it last quarter in the midst of shifting tariff policies. The company now expects 2025 net sales to rise 1% to 3%, compared to its February target of a 2% to 3% increase. It forecast adjusted per-share profit between $1.54 and $1.66, below its prior estimate range of $1.66 to $1.72 apiece. Earlier in the day, rival Hasbro (HAS) raised its annual revenue outlook, betting on the strength of its digital games and cost-cutting efforts to weather the impact of mounting economic and tariff uncertainty. Shares of the company fell 4% in trading after the bell. Chipotle plunges after company reports second-straight sales decline, cuts guidance Chipotle (CMG) on Wednesday reported another quarter of negative sales growth as the company navigates an uncertain consumer environment and new leadership deals with the most challenging backdrop for the chain in years. The company reported a same-store sales decline of 4% in the second quarter, more than the 2.9% decline Wall Street expected. Traffic fell more than expected, down 4.9%, compared to the 4.4% drop lower the Street predicted. That's an acceleration from the 2.3% drop seen in the first quarter, which marked Chipotle's first quarterly foot traffic decline since 2022. Chipotle also cut its guidance again, saying it now expects flat full year same-store sales growth, compared to an increase in the low-single-digit range. Ahead of Wednesday's report, analysts expected same-store sales to grow 0.8% for the fiscal year. Read more here. IBM results beat estimates on AI mainframe refresh, consulting revival Reuters reports: Read more here. T-Mobile dials up a big earnings beat, stock jumps T-Mobile (TMUS) dialed up a big second quarter against the backdrop of heightened competition for new customers with rivals Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T). The telecom giant easily beat analyst estimates on Wednesday after market close. It gained the most net new customers in the second quarter compared to its competitors. This comes as it leaned into its value messaging by releasing a five-year price lock on phone plans in April. The company lifted its full-year adjusted operating profit guidance. Read more here. ServiceNow jumps after big earnings beat ServiceNow (NOW) stock surged after its results beat expectations. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi has the full report, including comments from its CEO: Read more here. Tesla misses on Q2 earnings, but says 'more affordable' model planned for 2025 production Tesla (TSLA) stock initially spiked 1% after reporting second quarter results but fluctuated as investors digested the earnings miss. Here's a look at the top takeaways investors were watching in Tesla's results: The core auto business: Tesla reported second quarter revenue of $22.50 billion vs. $22.64 billion (per Bloomberg consensus), a 9% drop compared with the $25.05 billion reported a year ago. Tesla posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.40 vs $0.42, with operating income coming in at $923 million vs. $1.23 billion expected. The cheap EV: Tesla said its "more affordable" model was still slated for 2025 production. "We continue to expand our vehicle offering, including first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production planned for the second half of 2025," the company said in a statement. A year ago, Tesla said in its Q2 earnings report that production remains on track for new vehicles, likely including a cheaper EV, in the first half of next year. There has been no indication or even renderings of a new vehicle, let alone production of a vehicle priced around $30,000. Tesla's cheapest EV is the rear-wheel-drive Model 3 sedan, which starts at around $43,000 without incentives. Robotaxi rollout Tesla said its purpose-built robotaxi was still scheduled for volume release production starting in 2026. Tesla has expanded its robotaxi testing in Austin, Texas, with a bigger operating area and likely more vehicles coming. Read more here. Deckers stock soars after Hoka, Ugg sales surge Hoka sneakers and Ugg brand shoes boosted Deckers (DECK) sales and profits last quarter, sending shares up more than 14% after hours. On Thursday, Deckers reported net sales grew 17% to $964.5 million, above estimates of $901.4 million, per Bloomberg data. Profits surged 24%, with diluted earnings per share coming in at $0.93. "HOKA and UGG outperformed our first quarter expectations, with robust growth delivering solid results to begin fiscal year 2026," CEO Stefano Caroti said in a press release. "Though uncertainty remains elevated in the global trade environment, our confidence in our brands has not changed, and the long-term opportunities ahead are significant. We will lean on the fundamental strengths of our powerful operating model as we continue executing our strategy." The main story for the quarter was Deckers' international business: International net sales rose 49.7%, offsetting a 2.8% decline in domestic sales. The company expects net sales for the current quarter in the range of $1.38 billion to $1.42 billion, in line with analyst estimates. Earnings are expected to be in the range of $1.50 to $1.55 per share. Read more here. Hoka sneakers and Ugg brand shoes boosted Deckers (DECK) sales and profits last quarter, sending shares up more than 14% after hours. On Thursday, Deckers reported net sales grew 17% to $964.5 million, above estimates of $901.4 million, per Bloomberg data. Profits surged 24%, with diluted earnings per share coming in at $0.93. "HOKA and UGG outperformed our first quarter expectations, with robust growth delivering solid results to begin fiscal year 2026," CEO Stefano Caroti said in a press release. "Though uncertainty remains elevated in the global trade environment, our confidence in our brands has not changed, and the long-term opportunities ahead are significant. We will lean on the fundamental strengths of our powerful operating model as we continue executing our strategy." The main story for the quarter was Deckers' international business: International net sales rose 49.7%, offsetting a 2.8% decline in domestic sales. The company expects net sales for the current quarter in the range of $1.38 billion to $1.42 billion, in line with analyst estimates. Earnings are expected to be in the range of $1.50 to $1.55 per share. Read more here. Intel stock rises on Q2 revenue beat, plans to cut 15% of workforce Intel (INTC) second quarter revenue beat analyst estimates, but its earnings fell short of expectations. The chip giant also said it is slashing its workforce by 15% and expects to have approximately 75,000 employees by the end of the year. Intel's new CEO Lip-Bu Tan has already undertaken or is exploring several cost-cutting measures. According to The Oregonian, the company is shuttering its automotive business, outsourcing marketing jobs, and laying off factory workers. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley has more details on Intel's results: Read more here. Intel (INTC) second quarter revenue beat analyst estimates, but its earnings fell short of expectations. The chip giant also said it is slashing its workforce by 15% and expects to have approximately 75,000 employees by the end of the year. Intel's new CEO Lip-Bu Tan has already undertaken or is exploring several cost-cutting measures. According to The Oregonian, the company is shuttering its automotive business, outsourcing marketing jobs, and laying off factory workers. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley has more details on Intel's results: Read more here. Intel to report Q2 earnings as Wall Street looks for signs of turnaround Intel (INTC) will report its second quarter earnings on Thursday as the company's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, continues his attempt to turn around the ailing chip giant. Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley details what to expect when Intel reports: Read more here. Intel (INTC) will report its second quarter earnings on Thursday as the company's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, continues his attempt to turn around the ailing chip giant. Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley details what to expect when Intel reports: Read more here. Southwest CFO says decision to lower guidance by $1 billion was 'macro-driven' Southwest (LUV) stock tanked on Thursday after the airline's earnings results missed estimates. Shares fell over 12% as the earnings call with investors began. (You can listen to the full call here.) Earlier on Thursday, Southwest CFO Tom Doxey told Yahoo Finance that the company's disappointing results were primarily caused by broader economic challenges, tariff uncertainty, and weaker consumer sentiment. Doxey confirmed that Southwest lowered its full-year pre-tax profit (EBIT) guidance to $600 million-$800 million from the $1.7 billion forecast previously. 'There's an estimate of about $800 million to $1 billion in revenue degradation that has occurred as a result of the macro,' Doxey said. 'The number is large, but it is macro-driven.' He said that Southwest's domestic travel revenue outperformed peers. But the overall domestic segment underperformed international and premium travel, which are the strengths of other airlines like Delta (DAL) and United (UAL). Southwest's second quarter got off to a rocky start as consumer confidence plummeted to a three-year low after President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement in April. That translated to lower travel demand at the beginning of the peak summer season. However, things are improving, Doxey said. 'Demand fell off quite quickly during that period,' he noted. 'The great news is we're starting to see that stabilize.' Southwest (LUV) stock tanked on Thursday after the airline's earnings results missed estimates. Shares fell over 12% as the earnings call with investors began. (You can listen to the full call here.) Earlier on Thursday, Southwest CFO Tom Doxey told Yahoo Finance that the company's disappointing results were primarily caused by broader economic challenges, tariff uncertainty, and weaker consumer sentiment. Doxey confirmed that Southwest lowered its full-year pre-tax profit (EBIT) guidance to $600 million-$800 million from the $1.7 billion forecast previously. 'There's an estimate of about $800 million to $1 billion in revenue degradation that has occurred as a result of the macro,' Doxey said. 'The number is large, but it is macro-driven.' He said that Southwest's domestic travel revenue outperformed peers. But the overall domestic segment underperformed international and premium travel, which are the strengths of other airlines like Delta (DAL) and United (UAL). Southwest's second quarter got off to a rocky start as consumer confidence plummeted to a three-year low after President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement in April. That translated to lower travel demand at the beginning of the peak summer season. However, things are improving, Doxey said. 'Demand fell off quite quickly during that period,' he noted. 'The great news is we're starting to see that stabilize.' Blackstone assets under management surge, COO says dealmaking pause 'is behind us' Blackstone (BX) surprised Wall Street analysts on Thursday when it reported its assets under management surged 13% to a record $1.21 trillion. Profits also rose 72% to $764 million, compared to the second quarter of last year, sending shares nearly 5% higher in early trading. Notably, Blackstone's No. 2 echoed other big banks in the company's earnings call in saying that the dealmaking pause is behind us. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports: Read more here. Blackstone (BX) surprised Wall Street analysts on Thursday when it reported its assets under management surged 13% to a record $1.21 trillion. Profits also rose 72% to $764 million, compared to the second quarter of last year, sending shares nearly 5% higher in early trading. Notably, Blackstone's No. 2 echoed other big banks in the company's earnings call in saying that the dealmaking pause is behind us. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports: Read more here. Alphabet in 'AI (beast) mode': 5 takeaways from Google's earnings call Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) shares rose in early trading as investor sentiment grew positive on the stock following its bullish earnings call commentary and strong Q2 results. And my colleague Brian Sozzi jotted down some takeaways from the earnings call that help explain the bullish mood today: Sozzi noted that, in many ways, it's surprising that Alphabet stock is up just 1.5% this morning, as it's trading at only 19.3 times forward earnings on a PE basis (S&P 500 is at 24 times). Several Wall Street analysts agreed. "AI (beast) mode — it's time to close the valuation gap," KeyBanc analyst Justin Patterson said. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives added, "We continue see a favorable risk/reward for Alphabet and think there is a case for multiple expansion in the coming quarters as investors gain more comfort around the current macro environment, regulatory risk, and the impact of generative AI on the business." Read more takeaways from Google's earnings call here. Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) shares rose in early trading as investor sentiment grew positive on the stock following its bullish earnings call commentary and strong Q2 results. And my colleague Brian Sozzi jotted down some takeaways from the earnings call that help explain the bullish mood today: Sozzi noted that, in many ways, it's surprising that Alphabet stock is up just 1.5% this morning, as it's trading at only 19.3 times forward earnings on a PE basis (S&P 500 is at 24 times). Several Wall Street analysts agreed. "AI (beast) mode — it's time to close the valuation gap," KeyBanc analyst Justin Patterson said. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives added, "We continue see a favorable risk/reward for Alphabet and think there is a case for multiple expansion in the coming quarters as investors gain more comfort around the current macro environment, regulatory risk, and the impact of generative AI on the business." Read more takeaways from Google's earnings call here. Uptick in coal shipments boosts Union Pacific earnings Union Pacific (UNP) second quarter profits exceeded Wall Street's expectations, driven by operational improvements, higher freight volumes, and improved pricing. The stock fell 2% ahead of the opening bell Thursday. The economic bellwether saw an uptick in coal shipment volumes in the second quarter, as well as in shipments of grain products and industrial chemicals. The improvement in coal shipments stood out after President Trump signed executive orders boosting the industry, which has been a weak spot for railroad operators. Union Pacific confirmed that it is in talks with Norfolk Southern (NSC) on a possible merger that would reshape the US's railroad industry. The magnitude of a combination of the railroad operators would put the deal under close regulatory and antitrust scrutiny. Here's what Union Pacific reported in Q2, per Reuters: Read more here. Union Pacific (UNP) second quarter profits exceeded Wall Street's expectations, driven by operational improvements, higher freight volumes, and improved pricing. The stock fell 2% ahead of the opening bell Thursday. The economic bellwether saw an uptick in coal shipment volumes in the second quarter, as well as in shipments of grain products and industrial chemicals. The improvement in coal shipments stood out after President Trump signed executive orders boosting the industry, which has been a weak spot for railroad operators. Union Pacific confirmed that it is in talks with Norfolk Southern (NSC) on a possible merger that would reshape the US's railroad industry. The magnitude of a combination of the railroad operators would put the deal under close regulatory and antitrust scrutiny. Here's what Union Pacific reported in Q2, per Reuters: Read more here. American Airlines restores 2025 forecast, flags economic worries for keeping it broad American Airlines (AAL) maintained a broad 2025 forecast on Thursday, citing economic uncertainty, with one of the outcomes being a loss to profit. The carrier's shares fell 6% before the bell. The airline is facing challenges in the domestic travel market, where travel spending remains weak due to US tariffs and budget cuts. Reuters reports: Read more here. American Airlines (AAL) maintained a broad 2025 forecast on Thursday, citing economic uncertainty, with one of the outcomes being a loss to profit. The carrier's shares fell 6% before the bell. The airline is facing challenges in the domestic travel market, where travel spending remains weak due to US tariffs and budget cuts. Reuters reports: Read more here. Honeywell beats on earnings, raises 2025 forecasts on sustained demand for aerospace parts, services Honeywell (HON) stock fell premarket despite reporting an earnings beat and guidance raise. Adjusted earnings per share of $2.75 exceeded Wall Street's estimates of $2.66 per share. Sales hit the top end of the company's guidance at $10.4 billion, compared to estimates of $10.1 billion. Strong demand for aerospace parts and maintenance services lifted Honeywell's results as it prepares to split into three companies. The company's aerospace division, its biggest revenue generator, posted a 10.7% jump in sales to $4.31 billion in the second quarter, as the Boeing (BA) and Airbus ( supplier benefited from rising demand and a shortage of new jets. Honeywell raised its revenue outlook and now expects between $40.8 billion and $41.3 billion for the year, up from the $39.6 billion and $40.5 billion it had previously forecast. It also sees 2025 adjusted profit per share between $10.45 and $10.65, up from its previous forecast of $10.20 to $10.50. Read more here from Reuters. Honeywell (HON) stock fell premarket despite reporting an earnings beat and guidance raise. Adjusted earnings per share of $2.75 exceeded Wall Street's estimates of $2.66 per share. Sales hit the top end of the company's guidance at $10.4 billion, compared to estimates of $10.1 billion. Strong demand for aerospace parts and maintenance services lifted Honeywell's results as it prepares to split into three companies. The company's aerospace division, its biggest revenue generator, posted a 10.7% jump in sales to $4.31 billion in the second quarter, as the Boeing (BA) and Airbus ( supplier benefited from rising demand and a shortage of new jets. Honeywell raised its revenue outlook and now expects between $40.8 billion and $41.3 billion for the year, up from the $39.6 billion and $40.5 billion it had previously forecast. It also sees 2025 adjusted profit per share between $10.45 and $10.65, up from its previous forecast of $10.20 to $10.50. Read more here from Reuters. Keurig Dr. Pepper earnings beat estimates as energy drinks shine, but coffee inflation lurks Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Tesla stock takes a leg down during earnings call Tesla (TSLA) stock took a firm leg down during the company's quarterly earnings call on Wednesday as the company's CFO warned of "adverse impacts" from the "big bill" President Trump recently signed into law. Notably, the bill takes aim at two key tax credits that Tesla has taken advantage of to scale its company: the electric-vehicle tax credit and the solar tax credit. "The big bill has certain adverse impacts, even for the energy business," Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja. "We're doing our best to manage through this," he added. "But we will see shifts in demand and profitability." He said tariff costs increased to around $300 million this quarter. Tesla was down as much as 3.5% after seesawing between green and red right after the release of its earnings report — which you can see more details of by continuing to scroll. Also on the call, CEO Elon Musk predicted Tesla would "have autonomous ride-hailing reach half the population of the US by the end of the year." "That's at least our goal, subject to regulatory approvals," he added. Tesla (TSLA) stock took a firm leg down during the company's quarterly earnings call on Wednesday as the company's CFO warned of "adverse impacts" from the "big bill" President Trump recently signed into law. Notably, the bill takes aim at two key tax credits that Tesla has taken advantage of to scale its company: the electric-vehicle tax credit and the solar tax credit. "The big bill has certain adverse impacts, even for the energy business," Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja. "We're doing our best to manage through this," he added. "But we will see shifts in demand and profitability." He said tariff costs increased to around $300 million this quarter. Tesla was down as much as 3.5% after seesawing between green and red right after the release of its earnings report — which you can see more details of by continuing to scroll. Also on the call, CEO Elon Musk predicted Tesla would "have autonomous ride-hailing reach half the population of the US by the end of the year." "That's at least our goal, subject to regulatory approvals," he added. Chart: Chipotle foot traffic declines for second straight quarter Chipotle (CMG) stock tanked 9% following second quarter results and as the earnings call began (listen to the live call here). As the chart below shows, foot traffic fell more than expected, accelerating the slowdown in traffic that began in the first quarter. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that overall foot traffic fell 4.9% against the 4.4% drop that had been forecast by the Street. Chipotle cut its guidance and said it expects same-store sales to be flat for the full year. On the earnings call, CEO Scott Boatwright highlighted initiatives — in marketing, the value proposition, menu innovation, and a revamped rewards program — aimed at jump-starting sales. But Boatwright acknowledged that the fast-casual chain is facing a slowdown in trends and one of the most challenging consumer backdrops in years. Chipotle (CMG) stock tanked 9% following second quarter results and as the earnings call began (listen to the live call here). As the chart below shows, foot traffic fell more than expected, accelerating the slowdown in traffic that began in the first quarter. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports that overall foot traffic fell 4.9% against the 4.4% drop that had been forecast by the Street. Chipotle cut its guidance and said it expects same-store sales to be flat for the full year. On the earnings call, CEO Scott Boatwright highlighted initiatives — in marketing, the value proposition, menu innovation, and a revamped rewards program — aimed at jump-starting sales. But Boatwright acknowledged that the fast-casual chain is facing a slowdown in trends and one of the most challenging consumer backdrops in years. Southwest misses profit expectations as weak domestic demand erodes fares Southwest Airlines (LUV) missed Wall Street estimates for second quarter profit on Wednesday as a sluggish start to the peak summer travel season has translated to weak domestic travel demand and softer fares. Southwest reported operating revenue of $7.24 billion in the quarter through June, compared with $7.35 billion a year earlier. The budget carrier reported an adjusted profit per share of $0.43, compared with analysts' average expectations of $0.51, according to data compiled by LSEG. While Delta Air Lines (DAL) and United Airlines (UAL) were buoyed by more affluent customers, low-cost carriers like Southwest have noted their price-sensitive customers are coming under pressure. Still, airline executives and analysts have signaled that travel demand has remained broadly steady. Read more from Reuters. Southwest Airlines (LUV) missed Wall Street estimates for second quarter profit on Wednesday as a sluggish start to the peak summer travel season has translated to weak domestic travel demand and softer fares. Southwest reported operating revenue of $7.24 billion in the quarter through June, compared with $7.35 billion a year earlier. The budget carrier reported an adjusted profit per share of $0.43, compared with analysts' average expectations of $0.51, according to data compiled by LSEG. While Delta Air Lines (DAL) and United Airlines (UAL) were buoyed by more affluent customers, low-cost carriers like Southwest have noted their price-sensitive customers are coming under pressure. Still, airline executives and analysts have signaled that travel demand has remained broadly steady. Read more from Reuters. Wall Street looks to Google's earnings call for details on higher-than-expected capex number Alphabet (GOOG) earnings indicated solid growth across the business, but it was the capital expenditures number that was "a bit concerning," according to Roundhill Investments CEO Dave Mazza. Google said capital expenditures will climb to $85 billion; it previously projected $75 billion. On the earnings call, investors will be looking for answers on where that spending is going. Rohit Kulkarni, senior research analyst at ROTH MKM, also weighed in on the initial Street reaction to Google's earnings. "Fundamentally, I think we're seeing acceleration in revenues in a very large company," Kulkarni said. "Google Search is accelerating. YouTube growth has accelerated. Google Cloud has accelerated, and even subscriptions have accelerated." "Having said that," Kulkarni added, "I think the stock reaction here is a knee-jerk reaction about where are you going to spend those extra $10 billion and what is the ROI that you're seeing from the existing spend? That's a sentiment that probably drives a lot of other megacaps, in my opinion." Google's earnings call is live now. You can listen in here. Alphabet (GOOG) earnings indicated solid growth across the business, but it was the capital expenditures number that was "a bit concerning," according to Roundhill Investments CEO Dave Mazza. Google said capital expenditures will climb to $85 billion; it previously projected $75 billion. On the earnings call, investors will be looking for answers on where that spending is going. Rohit Kulkarni, senior research analyst at ROTH MKM, also weighed in on the initial Street reaction to Google's earnings. "Fundamentally, I think we're seeing acceleration in revenues in a very large company," Kulkarni said. "Google Search is accelerating. YouTube growth has accelerated. Google Cloud has accelerated, and even subscriptions have accelerated." "Having said that," Kulkarni added, "I think the stock reaction here is a knee-jerk reaction about where are you going to spend those extra $10 billion and what is the ROI that you're seeing from the existing spend? That's a sentiment that probably drives a lot of other megacaps, in my opinion." Google's earnings call is live now. You can listen in here. Mattel stock falls after the toymaker posts steeper sales decline than expected Mattel (MAT) posted a bigger-than-expected drop in second quarter revenue on Wednesday as cautious inventory planning by retailers amid global trade uncertainties weighed on demand, per Reuters. Barbie sales in North America were weak during the quarter, with worldwide gross billings for dolls declining 19%. The infant, toddler, and preschool category, which includes Fisher-Price, Baby Gear, and Power Wheels brands logged a 25% drop. The toymaker, which also sells popular brands such as Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and Uno, did reinstate its 2025 sales and profit forecast after pulling it last quarter in the midst of shifting tariff policies. The company now expects 2025 net sales to rise 1% to 3%, compared to its February target of a 2% to 3% increase. It forecast adjusted per-share profit between $1.54 and $1.66, below its prior estimate range of $1.66 to $1.72 apiece. Earlier in the day, rival Hasbro (HAS) raised its annual revenue outlook, betting on the strength of its digital games and cost-cutting efforts to weather the impact of mounting economic and tariff uncertainty. Shares of the company fell 4% in trading after the bell. Mattel (MAT) posted a bigger-than-expected drop in second quarter revenue on Wednesday as cautious inventory planning by retailers amid global trade uncertainties weighed on demand, per Reuters. Barbie sales in North America were weak during the quarter, with worldwide gross billings for dolls declining 19%. The infant, toddler, and preschool category, which includes Fisher-Price, Baby Gear, and Power Wheels brands logged a 25% drop. The toymaker, which also sells popular brands such as Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and Uno, did reinstate its 2025 sales and profit forecast after pulling it last quarter in the midst of shifting tariff policies. The company now expects 2025 net sales to rise 1% to 3%, compared to its February target of a 2% to 3% increase. It forecast adjusted per-share profit between $1.54 and $1.66, below its prior estimate range of $1.66 to $1.72 apiece. Earlier in the day, rival Hasbro (HAS) raised its annual revenue outlook, betting on the strength of its digital games and cost-cutting efforts to weather the impact of mounting economic and tariff uncertainty. Shares of the company fell 4% in trading after the bell. Chipotle plunges after company reports second-straight sales decline, cuts guidance Chipotle (CMG) on Wednesday reported another quarter of negative sales growth as the company navigates an uncertain consumer environment and new leadership deals with the most challenging backdrop for the chain in years. The company reported a same-store sales decline of 4% in the second quarter, more than the 2.9% decline Wall Street expected. Traffic fell more than expected, down 4.9%, compared to the 4.4% drop lower the Street predicted. That's an acceleration from the 2.3% drop seen in the first quarter, which marked Chipotle's first quarterly foot traffic decline since 2022. Chipotle also cut its guidance again, saying it now expects flat full year same-store sales growth, compared to an increase in the low-single-digit range. Ahead of Wednesday's report, analysts expected same-store sales to grow 0.8% for the fiscal year. Read more here. Chipotle (CMG) on Wednesday reported another quarter of negative sales growth as the company navigates an uncertain consumer environment and new leadership deals with the most challenging backdrop for the chain in years. The company reported a same-store sales decline of 4% in the second quarter, more than the 2.9% decline Wall Street expected. Traffic fell more than expected, down 4.9%, compared to the 4.4% drop lower the Street predicted. That's an acceleration from the 2.3% drop seen in the first quarter, which marked Chipotle's first quarterly foot traffic decline since 2022. Chipotle also cut its guidance again, saying it now expects flat full year same-store sales growth, compared to an increase in the low-single-digit range. Ahead of Wednesday's report, analysts expected same-store sales to grow 0.8% for the fiscal year. Read more here. IBM results beat estimates on AI mainframe refresh, consulting revival Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. T-Mobile dials up a big earnings beat, stock jumps T-Mobile (TMUS) dialed up a big second quarter against the backdrop of heightened competition for new customers with rivals Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T). The telecom giant easily beat analyst estimates on Wednesday after market close. It gained the most net new customers in the second quarter compared to its competitors. This comes as it leaned into its value messaging by releasing a five-year price lock on phone plans in April. The company lifted its full-year adjusted operating profit guidance. Read more here. T-Mobile (TMUS) dialed up a big second quarter against the backdrop of heightened competition for new customers with rivals Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T). The telecom giant easily beat analyst estimates on Wednesday after market close. It gained the most net new customers in the second quarter compared to its competitors. This comes as it leaned into its value messaging by releasing a five-year price lock on phone plans in April. The company lifted its full-year adjusted operating profit guidance. Read more here. ServiceNow jumps after big earnings beat ServiceNow (NOW) stock surged after its results beat expectations. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi has the full report, including comments from its CEO: Read more here. ServiceNow (NOW) stock surged after its results beat expectations. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi has the full report, including comments from its CEO: Read more here. Tesla misses on Q2 earnings, but says 'more affordable' model planned for 2025 production Tesla (TSLA) stock initially spiked 1% after reporting second quarter results but fluctuated as investors digested the earnings miss. Here's a look at the top takeaways investors were watching in Tesla's results: The core auto business: Tesla reported second quarter revenue of $22.50 billion vs. $22.64 billion (per Bloomberg consensus), a 9% drop compared with the $25.05 billion reported a year ago. Tesla posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.40 vs $0.42, with operating income coming in at $923 million vs. $1.23 billion expected. The cheap EV: Tesla said its "more affordable" model was still slated for 2025 production. "We continue to expand our vehicle offering, including first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production planned for the second half of 2025," the company said in a statement. A year ago, Tesla said in its Q2 earnings report that production remains on track for new vehicles, likely including a cheaper EV, in the first half of next year. There has been no indication or even renderings of a new vehicle, let alone production of a vehicle priced around $30,000. Tesla's cheapest EV is the rear-wheel-drive Model 3 sedan, which starts at around $43,000 without incentives. Robotaxi rollout Tesla said its purpose-built robotaxi was still scheduled for volume release production starting in 2026. Tesla has expanded its robotaxi testing in Austin, Texas, with a bigger operating area and likely more vehicles coming. Read more here. Tesla (TSLA) stock initially spiked 1% after reporting second quarter results but fluctuated as investors digested the earnings miss. Here's a look at the top takeaways investors were watching in Tesla's results: The core auto business: Tesla reported second quarter revenue of $22.50 billion vs. $22.64 billion (per Bloomberg consensus), a 9% drop compared with the $25.05 billion reported a year ago. Tesla posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.40 vs $0.42, with operating income coming in at $923 million vs. $1.23 billion expected. The cheap EV: Tesla said its "more affordable" model was still slated for 2025 production. "We continue to expand our vehicle offering, including first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production planned for the second half of 2025," the company said in a statement. A year ago, Tesla said in its Q2 earnings report that production remains on track for new vehicles, likely including a cheaper EV, in the first half of next year. There has been no indication or even renderings of a new vehicle, let alone production of a vehicle priced around $30,000. Tesla's cheapest EV is the rear-wheel-drive Model 3 sedan, which starts at around $43,000 without incentives. Robotaxi rollout Tesla said its purpose-built robotaxi was still scheduled for volume release production starting in 2026. Tesla has expanded its robotaxi testing in Austin, Texas, with a bigger operating area and likely more vehicles coming. Read more here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Lara Trump skips North Carolina US Senate race, clears way for Cooper versus Whatley
Lara Trump skips North Carolina US Senate race, clears way for Cooper versus Whatley

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time28 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Lara Trump skips North Carolina US Senate race, clears way for Cooper versus Whatley

By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump on Thursday said she would not run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year, setting the stage for an expected matchup of former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and North Carolina will be the site of one of the half-dozen most competitive races in next year's midterm elections, following Republican Thom Tillis' decision not to seek reelection. "After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time," Lara Trump said in a posting on X on Thursday. Multiple U.S. media outlets, citing unnamed sources, have reported that Whatley and Cooper intend to enter the race. The two could not be reached for comment on Thursday. North Carolina is one of six Senate races that are seen as competitive by political analysts. The other five are in Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire. Democrats face an uphill battle in capturing control of the chamber, as they would need to defend seats in Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire where incumbents are retiring and flip at least four Republican-held seats for a majority. They are seen as having better odds of capturing the House of Representatives, though efforts underway in heavily Republican Texas to redraw district lines could dim their chances in that chamber as well. Tillis opted not to seek reelection after drawing Trump's ire for voting against a sweeping tax-cut bill that will cut Medicaid funding. That may have provided Democrats with the ammunition to help sway the state's rural voters. "It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities," Tillis said of the massive bill the Senate passed on July 1. Cooper also blasted the bill in a July 3 posting on social media, saying that it hurt "working families, seniors, children and veterans so those at the top can have big tax breaks." On Monday, in his role as Republican National Committee head, Whatley posted criticism on social media of Representative Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat running for governor of Virginia this year. His missive might provide a hint on how a head-to-head matchup with Cooper might look. "She's an open-borders, pro-DEI, radical leftist who put America last in Congress and would do the same if she's elected as governor," Whatley said of Spanberger.

Trump's AI plan calls for massive data centers. Here's how it may affect energy in the U.S.
Trump's AI plan calls for massive data centers. Here's how it may affect energy in the U.S.

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time28 minutes ago

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Trump's AI plan calls for massive data centers. Here's how it may affect energy in the U.S.

President Donald Trump's plan to boost artificial intelligence and build data centers across the U.S. could speed up a building boom that was already expected to strain the nation's ability to power it. The White House released the 'AI Action Plan' Wednesday, vowing to expedite permitting for construction of energy-intensive data centers as it looks to make the country a leader in a business that tech companies and others are pouring billions of dollars into. The plan says to combat 'radical climate dogma,' a number of restrictions — including clean air and water laws — could be lifted, aligning with Trump's 'American energy dominance' agenda and his efforts to undercut clean energy. Here's what you need to know. What AI means for the environment Massive amounts of electricity are needed to support the complex servers, equipment and more for AI. Electricity demand from data centers worldwide is set to more than double by 2030, to slightly more than the entire electricity consumption of Japan today, the International Energy Agency said earlier this year. In many cases, that electricity may come from burning coal or natural gas. These fossil fuels emit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide and methane. This in turn is tied to extreme weather events that are becoming more severe, frequent and costly. The data centers used to fuel AI also need a tremendous amount of water to keep cool. That means they can strain water sources in areas that may have little to spare. What Big Tech is saying and doing about finding all that power Typically, tech giants, up-and-comers and other developers try to keep an existing power plant online to meet demand, experts say, and most existing power plants in the U.S. are still producing electricity using fossil fuels — most often natural gas. In certain areas of the U.S., a combination of renewables and energy storage in the form of batteries are coming online. But tapping into nuclear power is especially of interest as a way to reduce data center-induced emissions while still meeting demand and staying competitive. Amazon said last month it would spend $20 billion on data center sites in Pennsylvania, including one alongside a nuclear power plant. The investment allows Amazon to plug right into the plant, a scrutinized but faster approach for the company's development timeline. Meta recently signed a deal to secure nuclear power to meet its computing needs. Microsoft plans to buy energy from the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, and Google previously signed a contract to purchase it from multiple small modular reactors in the works. What's at stake in the kind of energy that powers data centers Data centers are often built where electricity is cheapest, and often, that's not from renewables. And sometimes data centers are cited as a reason to extend the lives of traditional, fossil-fuel-burning power plants. But just this week, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world's largest tech players to fuel their data center needs entirely with renewables by 2030. It's necessary to use fewer fossil fuels, he said. Experts say it's possible for developers, investors and the tech industry to decarbonize. However, though industry can do a lot with clean energy, the emerging demands are so big that it can't be clean energy alone, said University of Pennsylvania engineering professor Benjamin Lee. More generative AI, ChatGPT and massive data centers means 'relying on wind and solar alone with batteries becomes really, really expensive,' Lee added, hence the attention on natural gas, but also nuclear. What does AI growth mean for my electricity bills? Regardless of what powers AI, the simple law of supply and demand makes it all but certain that costs for consumers will rise. New data center projects might require both new energy generation and existing generation. Developers might also invest in batteries or other infrastructure like transmission lines. All of this costs money, and it needs to be paid for from somewhere. 'In a lot of places in the U.S., they are seeing that rates are going up because utilities are making these moves to try to plan,' said Amanda Smith, a senior scientist at research organization Project Drawdown. 'They're planning transmission infrastructure, new power plants for the growth and the load that's projected, which is what we want them to do," she added. "But we as ratepayers will wind up seeing rates go up to cover that.' ___ Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ___ Read more of AP's climate coverage at ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Alexa St. John, The Associated Press

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