7 investments worth betting on now that Trump’s tariffs are on
On April 2, President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs that caught Wall Street flat-footed and triggered the biggest market selloff in over two years. The S&P 500 dropped 3.4%. The Dow plunged over 1,200 points. Tech and retail got obliterated. And now, investors are scrambling—not to panic, but to reposition.
When everything is falling apart, smart investors start asking a different question: what’s actually worth buying?
We’ll walk you through exactly what happened, why the selloff was so severe, and what assets might offer strength—or even upside—in a tariff-heavy world.
What triggered the selloff?President Trump’s new trade policy doesn’t leave much room for nuance. A blanket 10% tariff will hit all imports starting April 5. But that’s just the floor. Nations that impose higher trade barriers on U.S. exports will get slapped with even steeper rates.
- China’s effective tariff? 54%.
- Vietnam? 46%.
- European Union? 20%.
These figures reflect both the new reciprocal rates and previous Trump-era duties. For traders hoping for a modest, universal cap between 10%–20%, this was worst-case-scenario territory.
As one strategist bluntly put it: “This was not priced in.”
Markets responded immediately. The S&P 500 fell into correction territory. Tech and retail names sank as investors braced for tighter margins, slower global demand, and retaliatory tariffs. Treasury yields fell 15 basis points. Even the dollar got dumped—sending the euro up nearly 2%.
The pain was widespread:
- Nike and Apple dropped 11% and 8%, respectively.
- Five Below, Gap, and Dollar Tree all lost 10–15%.
- Nvidia and Tesla fell 5% and 3.5%.
But here’s the thing: volatility doesn’t mean opportunity is gone. In fact, it’s often where the best opportunities begin to surface—if you know where to look.
What to buy when Trump tariffs are on?Let’s start with three dividend-paying Buffett picks built to weather storms.
1. Chevron: Oil profits with staying powerIf oil prices tank, most energy companies panic. Chevron doesn’t.
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That’s because it operates across the entire energy value chain—upstream, midstream, and downstream. It explores, produces, refines, transports, and sells. And this kind of vertical integration gives it breathing room when prices slide.
Chevron has also made smart moves in the Permian Basin, where it ramped up production by 18% between 2023 and 2024. These fields deliver higher-margin output, and management has called them “a core position that will generate production and cash long into the future.”
For income investors, Chevron offers a compelling proposition:
- Dividend yield: 4.1%
- 38 consecutive years of dividend hikes
- 4.8% CAGR in payouts since 2015
Even as global supply chains get whiplashed, Chevron has proven it can reward shareholders in good times and bad. Buffett didn’t build one of his largest energy positions by chasing short-term swings—and neither should you.
2. Louisiana-Pacific: The boring outperformerWarren Buffett loves an under-the-radar business with durable economics. Louisiana-Pacific fits that bill.
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It’s not a household name. It doesn’t dominate headlines. But it’s one of North America’s biggest players in engineered wood siding and oriented strand board (OSB)—critical materials in both new construction and remodeling markets.
Yes, high interest rates have cooled the housing sector. But Louisiana-Pacific is leaning into the repair-and-remodel segment, where it’s winning share from vinyl and fiber cement thanks to superior durability and sustainability. And in OSB, it’s shifting away from commoditized products toward higher-margin specialty boards.
Trading at just 17 times 2025 earnings—a year many analysts see as a bottom—Louisiana-Pacific could be a value play hiding in plain sight. And it pays a solid dividend while you wait.
If you’re looking for a quiet compounder that doesn’t panic when rates or tariffs rise, this one belongs on your radar.
3. Visa: A premium stock that stays premiumBuffett doesn’t just love banks—he loves rails. And Visa is the ultimate financial rail.
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Unlike traditional banks, Visa doesn’t carry lending risk. It earns a percentage of every transaction that runs through its network, making it inflation-resistant, capital-light, and insanely profitable.
Sure, it’s not cheap:
- P/E ratio: 35.3 (forward P/E around 31)
- Dividend yield: 0.7%
But you’re not buying Visa for yield. You’re buying a business that dominates its space, throws off cash, and has global acceptance. Even amid tariff turmoil, Visa remains a toll booth on global commerce.
The only real question is whether you’re willing to pay up for a blue chip in a red-tape world. If you have a multi-year time horizon, the answer is probably yes.
4. XRP: Crypto’s dark horse could benefit from stablecoin boomXRP has been a wild ride. After surging over 300% since Trump’s reelection, it’s now 40% off its highs. Most of that gain was driven by regulatory relief—the SEC dropped its lawsuit—and hopes for an XRP ETF, which now seems 80% likely to land in 2025.
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But that story’s old news. The surprising twist? Ripple’s stablecoin.
Launched in late 2024, Ripple USD (RLUSD) has already grown to a $200 million market cap. CEO Brad Garlinghouse believes it could crack the top five stablecoins by year-end.
- Target market share: 10% of the $200B stablecoin sector
- Upside potential: From $200M → $20B? That’s 100x
If institutional investors use RLUSD as an entry point into DeFi—and start swapping it for XRP—it could fuel a second wave of demand. That’s the bullish case. The bear case? Ripple’s stablecoin barely moves the needle and faces fierce competition from PayPal, Trump-affiliated firms, and others.
Still, for risk-tolerant crypto investors hunting underpriced catalysts, XRP offers a narrative with teeth.
5. SoundHound AI: Voice tech that’s getting louderSoundHound started as a music app. Now it’s an AI firm powering voice interfaces in cars, restaurants, and call centers.
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Its real magic lies in proprietary speech-to-meaning technology—software that understands natural language in real time, including complicated queries. It’s already powering Lucid vehicles and restaurant order systems across North America.
The stock is down 66% from its highs, yet the voice AI market is just getting started. As humans talk more to machines—and expect responses in real time—SoundHound’s tech could be foundational.
Big Tech hasn’t crushed it yet. That’s rare.
6. Archer Aviation: Flying taxis, nearly ready for takeoffIt sounds futuristic, but Archer’s eVTOL aircraft are very real.
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Their “Midnight” model can fly 100 miles at 150 mph and uses a system of independent battery packs for safety and redundancy.
- Down 40% from its peak
- Alliances with Stellantis, major airlines
- FAA just created a legal lane for ‘powered lift’ aircraft
Yes, it’s still early. And yes, commercialization takes time and cash. But Archer is moving fast. As it transitions from prototypes to revenue-generating operations, upside could arrive sooner than skeptics think.
7. BlackSky: Real-time intelligence from orbitBlackSky is what happens when AI meets space. It runs a constellation of satellites that deliver geospatial intelligence—images that detect objects and activity within 90 minutes of capture.
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Its new Gen-3 satellites hit 35cm resolution and integrate with AI that can identify vehicles, structures, even patterns. Governments are already on board.
- Down 61% from highs
- $255M market cap
- Targeting a $30B market by 2033
With rising geopolitical tension and growing demand for fast, smart surveillance, BlackSky sits at the intersection of space and defense. Its current valuation severely understates that potential.
Buy fear, not noiseMarkets hate uncertainty, and right now there’s plenty of it. But the biggest money isn’t made when everything’s calm. It’s made when everyone else is panicking.
Chevron, Visa, and Louisiana-Pacific offer dividends and durability. XRP, SoundHound, Archer, and BlackSky offer asymmetrical upside. You don’t have to bet big—but in times like these, standing still is often riskier than taking a calculated step forward.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. We do not endorse any specific investment strategies or make recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of any securities.