Let PivotXY bring clarity to uncertain times.

The stock market dislikes uncertainty and tends to react to it loudly. Uncertain times challenge even the best corporate leadership teams — but having reliable data and the tools to sort through it all can turn chaos into a decisive advantage.

‍

Let’s explore the current market mayhem and how savvy executives can find a degree of clarity as they chart a path through it.

‍

How changing trade policy is disrupting the economy

‍

Q1 of 2025 was rough: The DOW is down 2.3% and the S&P 500 dropped 6.1%, putting it on track for its first quarterly loss since June 2023. Over the last several weeks, as U.S. trade policy fluctuates under the current administration, worries of a contracting economy loom across various industries. Tariff threats and economic uncertainty can drive up consumer prices and lower business profitability. We are seeing this manifest in a range of industries:

• ‍Consumer packaged goods: Rising tariffs cause imported goods to become more expensive, prompting consumer businesses to seek the lowest-cost supplier. Tariffs typically cause companies to switch to domestic production only when they make domestic goods the cheapest option. If not, tariffs will increase costs and reduce supply choices without resulting in a production shift.
  ‍
• ‍Retailers: Retailers have mixed sentiments about the shifting trade landscape. Some may not be as sensitive to the onset of economic uncertainty due to diversified sourcing models. Others say consumers should expect prices to increase. Looking forward, retail leaders will need to lean on positive relationships with vendors or diversify their supply chains.
  ‍
• ‍Manufacturers: Manufacturers dependent on international supply chains face disruptions due to tariffs and trade barriers. Imported goods subject to increased tariffs can drive production costs higher and discourage manufacturers from using overseas facilities.
  ‍
• ‍Tech giants: The U.S. technology sector relies heavily on global supply chains, sourcing components and finished goods from China, Mexico and Canada. Apple’s share price dropped 9.8% in March; Amazon has also felt pressure, with stock prices falling 15.4% in 2025.

Consumer optimism is also on the floor. The March results of the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 57, compared to 64.7 in February, the lowest level since November of 2022.

‍

How does a business navigate such a stormy market?  

‍

When sailing into a massive storm, leaders need to navigate carefully, but paralysis can be destructive and tank value. Having the best possible data, and the right instruments to collect it, is paramount. Economic Profit, for example, is a metric that indicates how well a firm invests its resources and whether it is outearning competitors. Analysts use Economic Profit to determine if a business should enter or exit a market or an industry.

‍

In contracting markets, companies shift toward risk-adverse behavior because the cost of failure is extremely elevated. But where can they optimize? Times of hardship mean companies must prioritize efficiency and be leaner and nimbler in their operations. Since this storm seems to just be getting started, companies still have time to find the best tools to sort through all the data and navigate choppy economic waters.

‍

Trustworthy analyses in minutes to guide your corporate leadership team

‍

PivotXY is a SaaS innovation built to help you navigate unstable markets. As tariff uncertainty rises, the ability to see the whole picture helps you map a course — and the PXY Insights Engine can be a crucial tool.  

• Our Competitive Benchmarking Tool allows you to see how your competitors are positioning themselves and any opportunities you may be missing. Who are the standouts? What are they doing? How are investors rewarding their strategies compared to yours?

• Our upcoming Valuation+ Module will enable you to assess the impact of different variables on the shareholder value of your business. How do different growth rates and steady-state margins affect your valuation, and what challenges do you face while pursuing a higher share price/market cap?

Within minutes, PivotXY will deliver proprietary analyses that get you to the meat of strategy conversations faster — enabling you to spend more time grappling with complex issues and possible opportunities, without sacrificing analytical rigor. It’s the tool to clarify your optimal path toward a winning strategy.

‍