The New York Times Company creates, collects, and distributes news and information worldwide through two segments: The New York Times Group and The Athletic. Its products include The New York Times, The Athletic, Cooking, Games, Audio, and Wirecutter. The company also offers advertising products and services, licenses content to digital aggregators and third-party platforms, and provides commercial printing and distribution for third parties. It was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Subscriber Growth Miss Sinks NYT; Copyright Case Advances
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Subscriber growth slowdown triggers sharp selloff NYT added 280,000 digital subscribers in Q2, below the 295,000 expected and down from 310,000 last quarter. Management blamed weaker Google search traffic and forecast slower Q3 subscription revenue growth, sending the stock down 13-16% as investors worried the core growth engine is stalling.
This is the single biggest new event driving NYT's price this period, directly hitting its main revenue source.
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NYT pushes for sanctions against OpenAI in copyright case NYT asked a federal court to sanction OpenAI, claiming it hid evidence and deleted ChatGPT conversations relevant to the lawsuit over using millions of articles without permission. A stronger copyright case could mean future licensing revenue or damages, supporting the stock.
This is a new legal development that could affect NYT's content monetization and long-term value.
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DOJ subpoenas NYT journalists over Air Force One report Four NYT reporters were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury about their reporting on security issues with Trump's new Air Force One. The move threatens press freedom and could chill investigative journalism, adding legal and reputational risk for the company.
This is a new regulatory/legal threat that could raise costs and distract management, weighing on sentiment.
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NYT cited as defensive pick amid inflation and rate-hike fears With inflation above 4% and a Fed rate hike expected, Zacks highlighted NYT as a low-beta, dividend-paying defensive stock with positive earnings revisions. This may attract cautious investors seeking stability, offering some support to the share price.
This explains a supportive force for NYT's stock even as growth concerns dominate.
Q3 2026
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Subscriber Growth Miss Sinks NYT; Copyright Case Advances
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Subscriber growth slowdown triggers sharp selloff NYT added 280,000 digital subscribers in Q2, below the 295,000 expected and down from 310,000 last quarter. Management blamed weaker Google search traffic and forecast slower Q3 subscription revenue growth, sending the stock down 13-16% as investors worried the core growth engine is stalling.
This is the single biggest new event driving NYT's price this period, directly hitting its main revenue source.
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NYT pushes for sanctions against OpenAI in copyright case NYT asked a federal court to sanction OpenAI, claiming it hid evidence and deleted ChatGPT conversations relevant to the lawsuit over using millions of articles without permission. A stronger copyright case could mean future licensing revenue or damages, supporting the stock.
This is a new legal development that could affect NYT's content monetization and long-term value.
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DOJ subpoenas NYT journalists over Air Force One report Four NYT reporters were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury about their reporting on security issues with Trump's new Air Force One. The move threatens press freedom and could chill investigative journalism, adding legal and reputational risk for the company.
This is a new regulatory/legal threat that could raise costs and distract management, weighing on sentiment.
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NYT cited as defensive pick amid inflation and rate-hike fears With inflation above 4% and a Fed rate hike expected, Zacks highlighted NYT as a low-beta, dividend-paying defensive stock with positive earnings revisions. This may attract cautious investors seeking stability, offering some support to the share price.
This explains a supportive force for NYT's stock even as growth concerns dominate.
News & notes movingNYT
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Artificial Intelligence▼
OpenAI Unveils Agent Dots as Model Release Cadence Accelerates
OpenAI unveiled a new AI agent called Dots at its DevDay event, with the company saying the agent can accomplish nearly anything using its own cloud computer, its own web browser, and connections to 4,000 other apps including Slack, ChatGPT, and Google Drive. The launch comes as OpenAI is releasing new models far more frequently, with the gap between new models from OpenAI and Anthropic shrinking from 70 days in 2024 to 11 days now, according to a chart compiled by Anthropic AI safety fellow Josh Carver. The faster cadence has raised safety concerns, with OpenAI apologizing for intrusions into its systems and hacks of its agents, and a New York Times story reporting that internal employees have complained about AI safety issues being ignored by management. Hosts Julie Hyman, Pras Subramanian, and Jake Conley discussed the developments on the 8:30 program.
OpenAI · Technology · Positive OpenAI unveiled its new Dots AI agent at DevDay, capable of using its own cloud computer, browser, and 4,000 app connections
OpenAI · Regulation · Negative OpenAI apologized for intrusions into its systems and hacks of its agents amid rising safety concerns over its faster model release cadence
Anthropic · Competition · Neutral Anthropic is cited via its safety fellow's chart showing the model-release gap with OpenAI shrinking from 70 days to 11 days
NYT · Regulation · Negative NYT reported internal OpenAI employees complaining that AI safety issues are being ignored by management
JPMorgan flags consumer stocks vulnerable to agentic AI
JPMorgan has identified a basket of consumer-facing stocks it says are vulnerable to the rise of agentic AI, warning that companies depending on users visiting their websites and apps could face growing pressure as AI agents take over tasks on consumers' behalf. The firm's U.S. Consumer Agentic AI Vulnerable basket spans travel, discovery and advertising, marketplaces, fintech and insurance, with the common thread being a reliance on consumers interacting directly with a site or app. JPMorgan says businesses built around consumer inertia, search friction, switching costs or control of traffic could see the value of owning the customer interface weaken, particularly those centered on discovery, comparison and lead generation. If agentic AI becomes the default interface for searching, comparing prices, booking travel or shopping for financial products, those platforms could see fewer visits and leads, pressuring margins. The basket's largest weights include Ally Financial at 7.1%, Rocket Cos at 7.0%, and Booking Holdings, Expedia Group and Airbnb at 6.8% each, alongside Intuit at 6.6%, Block at 6.4% and New York Times Co at 5.7%.
Artificial Intelligence › Agentic AI & Autonomous Workflows ▼Competition
ABNB · Competition · Negative Named as a top-weighted stock in JPMorgan's agentic-AI vulnerable basket, with AI agents potentially reducing direct bookings on its platform.
ALLY · Competition · Negative Largest weight (7.1%) in JPMorgan's agentic-AI vulnerable basket, as AI agents could bypass its consumer interface for financial products.
BKNG · Competition · Negative In JPMorgan's vulnerable basket at 6.8%, with agentic AI potentially cutting travel discovery and booking visits to its platform.
EXPE · Competition · Negative In JPMorgan's vulnerable basket at 6.8%, exposed to fewer visits and leads if AI agents handle travel search and booking.
INTU · Competition · Negative In JPMorgan's agentic-AI vulnerable basket at 6.6%, as AI agents could disintermediate its consumer-facing financial software interface.
NYT · Competition · Negative Named in JPMorgan's agentic-AI vulnerable basket (5.7% weight) as a discovery/traffic-dependent platform facing fewer visits and leads.
Florida pension fund sues New York Times over editorial standards
Florida's state-run public pension fund and a conservative think tank sued the New York Times Company on Wednesday, seeking company records to examine whether its board is ensuring compliance with editorial standards. The State Board of Administration of Florida, which oversees the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund, and the National Center for Public Policy Research are seeking access to the company's books and records, according to a court petition. The shareholders allege the board failed to maintain effective controls over journalistic standards, allowing those standards to be weaponized and contributing to biased and unreliable reporting. The petition cites claims by an unnamed former Times newsroom employee who allegedly raised concerns about anti-Israel bias and compliance with editorial standards, and it points to factual errors in Times reporting and a recent defamation verdict involving a former University of Alabama basketball player. The Times said the lawsuit has no merit and was brought for an improper purpose, calling it an attempt to pressure an independent media organization and chill journalism protected by the First Amendment. The plaintiffs had previously requested company documents in May, but the Times rejected the request, according to Bloomberg Law.
NYT · Regulation · Negative Shareholders sued the New York Times Company seeking books and records over alleged failure to maintain editorial standards controls.
National Center for Public Policy Research · Regulation · Neutral The National Center for Public Policy Research is a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit seeking company records from the Times.
State Board of Administration of Florida · Regulation · Neutral The State Board of Administration of Florida is a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit seeking company records from the Times.
DraftKings Denies New York Times Report on Targeting Losing Gamblers
DraftKings is pushing back against a New York Times report alleging the sportsbook used data science to target promotional incentives at customers most likely to lose money. According to a former data analyst interviewed by the Times, DraftKings built a machine learning model from customer betting records that assigned each gambler a score, with higher scores indicating more money likely lost per promotion offered, while the company resisted using similar technology to identify and protect gamblers at risk of addiction. The report said DraftKings spent $3B in promotions while taking in $8.7B in gross revenue, and that an internal 2023 memo found slots revenue was more elastic than earnings from other games, making promotions more effective there. In a statement to Seeking Alpha, a DraftKings spokesperson called the Times story built on false premises and based on the limited accounts of a few former employees, saying the company does not use AI to target anyone based on losses and does not market to customers based on indicators of potential problem gaming. The company said its promotions are designed to reward loyal customers and that it uses data science to customize offers based on customer preferences, and it noted it offers responsible-gambling tools such as cool-off periods and self-exclusion lists.
DKNG · Regulation · Negative NYT report alleges DraftKings used data science to target promotional incentives at likely-losing gamblers, drawing regulatory/legal scrutiny that the company denies.
NYT · Demand · Positive The New York Times produced the investigative report at the center of the story, drawing attention to its journalism.
OpenAI and News Organizations Submit Briefs to District Court Over Fair Use in AI Training
In a lawsuit filed against U.S.-based OpenAI and Microsoft for allegedly using copyrighted works without permission to train AI, both the plaintiffs and defendants submitted documents on the 4th to a federal court in New York, outlining their arguments over whether the use of copyrighted works for training purposes constitutes "fair use" under copyright law. Both sides requested a favorable ruling from Judge Stein. In the lawsuit, news organizations including The New York Times claimed that OpenAI and its major investor Microsoft used millions of articles without permission for training. Prominent authors such as John Grisham and George R.R. Martin also alleged unauthorized use of their books. OpenAI argued that "training extracts statistical patterns of language, which is highly transformative use and does not harm authors," while Microsoft countered that "the training and use of large language models do not substitute for copyrighted books." On the other hand, the authors' group pointed out that "AI is diluting the entire book market," and news organizations argued that "using plaintiffs' works for competitive purposes cannot be justified as fair use." Numerous lawsuits over AI training and copyright are pending across the country. This year, a federal court in California ruled that Anthropic and Meta's use of books constituted "transformative use," while some expressed concerns about the impact of generative AI on the market for copyrighted works. Judge Stein's decision in this case is expected to have significant implications for future litigation.
Artificial Intelligence › Foundation Models & Research Labs ▼Regulation
NYT · Regulation · Positive Plaintiff in lawsuit seeking to establish that AI training on its articles is not fair use; favorable ruling would protect its content.
OpenAI · Regulation · Negative Defendant in lawsuit; adverse ruling could restrict its AI training practices and require licensing.
MSFT · Regulation · Negative Defendant in lawsuit alleging copyright infringement in AI training; court decision could impose liability.
Berkshire Hathaway Boosts New York Times Stake Again
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway increased its stake in The New York Times Company for the second consecutive quarter, growing its share count by more than 3.5% in the second quarter of 2026. According to the latest 13F filing, Berkshire held 15.7 million shares as of June 29, 2026, worth about $1.1 billion, up 553,465 shares from the prior quarter, a 3.65% increase. This position now equals 9.78% of the company's outstanding shares, though it represents just 0.32% of Berkshire's overall portfolio. The buying spree follows strong quarterly results for the publisher, including a 16.4% rise in digital subscription revenue to $408 million and a 20.7% jump in digital advertising revenue to $114 million. Management projects digital subscription revenue growth of 12% to 15% for the full year, with analysts forecasting revenue to expand from $2.82 billion in 2025 to $3.52 billion in 2028.
Berkshire Hathaway's Greg Abel Spent $23.5 Billion on Nine Stocks
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel deployed roughly $23.5 billion into nine publicly traded companies last quarter, marking the conglomerate's first quarter as a net buyer of stocks since 2022. The largest investment was Alphabet, with a $10 billion private placement in June plus an additional $5 billion to $7 billion in open-market purchases, making it Berkshire's third-largest marketable equity holding. Other U.S. additions included Macy's, Delta Airlines, Lennar, New York Times, and a new position in D.R. Horton, while earlier disclosures revealed increased stakes in Japanese trading houses Mitsubishi, Marubeni, and Sumitomo. The article highlights Alphabet as the best of the bunch, citing its $514 billion contracted revenue backlog, expanding cloud operating margin to 35.6%, and a forward earnings multiple of 16.5 times.
GOOG · Demand · Positive Berkshire's $10B private placement and additional purchases make Alphabet its third-largest holding, highlighting its strong backlog and cloud growth.
8002.JP · Capital · Positive Berkshire increased its stake in Marubeni.
8053.JP · Capital · Positive Berkshire increased its stake in Sumitomo.
8058.JP · Capital · Positive Berkshire increased its stake in Mitsubishi.
DAL · Demand · Positive Berkshire increased its stake in Delta, signaling confidence in the airline's prospects.
DHI · Demand · Positive Berkshire initiated a new position in D.R. Horton, indicating a positive view on homebuilder demand.
Berkshire Hathaway Boosts Stakes in Delta, Lennar, and New York Times
Berkshire Hathaway increased its holdings in Delta Air Lines, Lennar, and The New York Times Company during the second quarter, according to its latest 13F filing. CEO Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett at the start of the year, raised the conglomerate's stake in Delta by 44% to 57.3 million shares, now worth about $5 billion and representing 8.7% of the airline. Berkshire also grew its Lennar position by 43%, holding 13.4 million shares of Class A and Class B stock valued at almost $1.2 billion, and lifted its New York Times stake by 4% to 15.7 million shares, a 9.8% ownership worth just over $1 billion. The moves come as Berkshire's overall portfolio expanded from $263 billion to $299 billion, with Abel also increasing the Alphabet position by 83% to more than $36 billion.
Disney reported second-quarter revenues of $25.25 billion, up 6.8% year on year, falling short of analysts' expectations by 0.6% but beating EPS estimates. Among the seven consumer discretionary media stocks tracked, News Corp was the best performer with revenues of $2.34 billion, up 10.8% year on year and beating estimates by 4.1%, while Scholastic was the weakest with revenues of $476.1 million, down 6.3% year on year and missing estimates by 7.9%. Warner Music Group reported revenues of $1.86 billion, up 10.4% year on year and beating estimates by 3.8%, and The New York Times reported revenues of $762.5 million, up 11.2% year on year and beating estimates by 1.4%. As a group, revenues missed analysts' consensus estimates by 0.8%, and share prices have held steady on average since the latest earnings results.
New York Times reports Q2 2026 revenue of $762.46 million and completes $110.48 million buyback
The New York Times Company reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of US$762.46 million and net income of US$93.42 million, while completing a US$110.48 million share repurchase program covering 1,488,255 shares that was announced in February 2025. The results showed higher year-on-year earnings per share, reinforcing the company's digital-first subscription and advertising model. Management is balancing digital investment with direct capital returns to shareholders through buybacks and dividends. The earnings strength highlights continued growth in digital-driven revenue, though risks remain from AI-driven content aggregation and shifting news consumption patterns.
New York Times adds 280,000 digital-only subscribers in Q2, missing estimates; shares drop over 13%
The New York Times reported a net increase of about 280,000 digital-only subscribers in the second quarter of 2026, falling short of the Visible Alpha consensus estimate of 295,300 and down from 310,000 additions in the previous quarter. Total subscribers reached 13.35 million, with a decline in traffic from Google weighing on the results. CEO Meredith Kopit Levien said the Times is also facing reduced site visits due to changes made by major technology companies. The company aims to reach 15 million subscribers by the end of 2027, requiring average quarterly net additions of 275,000 over the next six quarters. Second-quarter advertising revenue rose 11.3% year-on-year to 149.1 million dollars, beating market expectations, but the stock fell more than 13%.
New York Times Stock Sinks 13% as Subscriber Growth Slows
Shares of The New York Times Company plunged more than 13% after the publisher reported slower digital subscriber growth. The company added about 280,000 digital-only subscribers in the second quarter, missing the 295,300 analysts expected and down from 310,000 in the prior quarter, though total subscribers reached 13.35 million. Management cited weaker Google search traffic and fewer referral visits as headwinds, and forecast third-quarter digital subscription revenue growth of 12% to 15%, with the midpoint below Wall Street's 14.2% expectation. Advertising revenue rose 11.3% to $149.1 million, beating estimates, but the subscriber miss and cautious outlook drove the selloff, leaving the stock at $63.58, just 1.68% above its GF Value estimate of $62.53.
New York Times Faces Subscriber Growth Questions After Strong Run
New York Times is under closer investor scrutiny after concerns were raised about weak subscriber growth, pressured operating margins, and expectations for lower free cash flow margins. At a share price of $75.93, the stock has declined 1.02% in one day, though it has returned 44.14% over one year and 93.08% over three years. A narrative fair value estimate of $84 suggests the stock is modestly undervalued, but its current P/E of 32.1x is far higher than the estimated fair ratio of 20.8x and the US Media industry average of 22.6x, pointing to valuation risk if sentiment cools.
NYT · Capital · Negative Article highlights weak subscriber growth, pressured operating margins, and lower free cash flow expectations, with valuation risk at high P/E.
New York Times countersues EEOC, calling lawsuit retaliation by Trump administration
The New York Times has countersued the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, arguing that the agency's lawsuit is illegal retaliation for the paper's coverage of the Trump administration. In a counterclaim filed in Manhattan federal court, the Times seeks dismissal of the May lawsuit and a ruling that its free speech and due process rights were violated. The EEOC alleges the Times unlawfully passed over white men for editorial leadership roles, which the paper denies, contending that diversity goals played no part in the decision to promote a woman of multiracial background to deputy editor. The Times says the candidate who was hired had more experience and was better qualified than Bryant Rousseau, who had sought the promotion.
New York Times journalists subpoenaed over Air Force One report
Four New York Times journalists have been subpoenaed by the U.S. Department of Justice over their report on security concerns involving President Donald Trump's new Air Force One. The subpoenas, issued Friday by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, require reporters Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt to testify before a federal grand jury on Wednesday. The Times' top newsroom lawyer David McCraw called the move a brazen attempt to intimidate journalists and prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country. The journalists had reported that Trump was forced to depart the recent NATO summit in Turkey on the old Air Force One after the Secret Service flagged security issues with the new Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted by Qatar.
NYT · Regulation · Negative DOJ subpoenas four NYT journalists, threatening press freedom and potentially chilling reporting.
BA · Regulation · Negative DOJ subpoenas journalists over report on security issues with Boeing 747-8 Air Force One, highlighting potential safety concerns and government scrutiny.
NYT and Other Newspaper Groups Seek Sanctions Against OpenAI in Copyright Lawsuit
The New York Times and several other newspaper groups have asked a federal court in Manhattan to impose sanctions on OpenAI in connection with a copyright lawsuit. The newspaper groups allege that OpenAI made false statements about its system's search capabilities and concealed the fact that it had been searching for copyrighted content prior to the lawsuit. They also claim that OpenAI deleted or rendered unsearchable billions of ChatGPT conversation logs, and are seeking sanctions including legal fees, as well as a finding that the chat logs prove unauthorized use of content. An OpenAI spokesperson countered that the NYT is trying to violate the privacy of unrelated individuals with false claims, even though the NYT has weakened its allegations and withdrawn certain demands.
NYT · Regulation · Positive NYT is seeking sanctions against OpenAI in copyright lawsuit, which could strengthen its legal position and deter unauthorized use of its content.
Consumer Confidence Improves but Economic Woes Continue: 4 Safe Picks
Consumer confidence saw a marginal improvement in June but remains near historic lows, prompting a recommendation for defensive consumer staples stocks. The consumer confidence index rose to 91.2 from a downwardly revised 90.6, while the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index increased to a final reading of 49.5 from 44.8. The uptick follows a temporary halt in U.S.-Iran hostilities that eased oil prices, though inflation and labor market concerns persist. Private sector payrolls added 98,000 jobs in June, below estimates, and markets are pricing in a 25-basis-point Federal Reserve rate hike by year-end. Zacks Investment Research highlights John Wiley & Sons, Tyson Foods, Arko Corp., and The New York Times Company as low-beta picks with positive earnings estimate revisions and Zacks Ranks of 1 or 2.
New York Times Stock DCF Analysis Suggests 24.6% Undervaluation
A Discounted Cash Flow analysis by Simply Wall St estimates New York Times shares are undervalued by 24.6%, with an intrinsic value of US$94.02 per share compared to a recent close of US$70.88. The model projects free cash flow of US$564.6 million in 2026 and US$631.0 million in 2030, based on the latest twelve-month free cash flow of about US$544.7 million. However, the stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.01 times, above the Simply Wall St Fair Ratio of 21.05 times and the media industry average of 24.72 times, indicating overvaluation on that metric. The article also presents bull and bear case narratives, with fair values of US$95.00 and US$60.00 respectively, reflecting differing assumptions about digital subscription growth and valuation multiples.
Microsoft Stock Rebounds 5% as AI Revenue and Azure Growth Fuel Debate on Path Back to $500
Microsoft shares jumped 5% to $371 on Friday, offering a reprieve in a year where the stock has fallen 25% from its November peak above $500. The decline was driven by memory cost inflation that squeezed margins and a New York Times report flagging a potential delay to OpenAI's IPO into 2027, which hit sentiment given Microsoft's 27% stake valued at $135 billion. Microsoft's AI business reached a $37 billion annual revenue run rate, up 123%, while Azure revenue grew 40% in constant currency, and the commercial remaining performance obligation hit $627 billion, up 99%. Wall Street analysts maintain a consensus price target of $561 with 52 buy ratings, but Polymarket pricing implies only an 11% probability that the stock closes above $450 by June. The next major catalyst will be Microsoft's fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings report, where Azure growth and commentary on capital expenditures, which hit $30.88 billion in the third quarter, could either validate a recovery or renew anxiety.
Zacks Recommends 4 Defensive Stocks as US Inflation Hits 3-Year High
U.S. inflation surged past 4% in May for the first time since early 2023, driven by higher energy prices from the Middle East conflict, making a Federal Reserve rate hike likely. Zacks Investment Research recommends four defensive stocks with positive earnings estimate revisions and strong Zacks Ranks: Duke Energy, Coca-Cola, Arko Corp., and The New York Times Company. Duke Energy has a beta of 0.39 and a dividend yield of 3.37%, Coca-Cola has a beta of 0.35 and a yield of 2.63%, Arko Corp. has a beta of 0.98 and a yield of 1.56%, and The New York Times Company has a beta of 0.95 and a yield of 1.29%. The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 4.1% year over year in May, with core PCE up 3.4%, the highest since October 2023. Markets are pricing in a 25-basis-point rate hike by year-end, which could weigh on the economy and keep markets volatile.
ARKOW · Monetary · Positive Rising inflation and likely Fed rate hike make defensive stocks like Arko Corp. attractive, as they are less sensitive to economic cycles.
DUK · Monetary · Positive Rising inflation and likely Fed rate hike make defensive stocks like Duke Energy attractive, with low beta and high dividend yield.
KO · Monetary · Positive Rising inflation and likely Fed rate hike make defensive stocks like Coca-Cola attractive, with low beta and high dividend yield.
NYT · Monetary · Positive Rising inflation and likely Fed rate hike make defensive stocks like New York Times Company attractive, with low beta and high dividend yield.
Berkshire Hathaway Nearly Triples Stake in New York Times Under Greg Abel
Berkshire Hathaway nearly tripled its stake in the New York Times during its first full quarter under Greg Abel, adding roughly 199% to its Class A position. The move came in the same quarter the firm tripled its Alphabet stake and initiated a Delta Air Lines position. The New York Times, a 175-year-old publisher with an $11.7 billion market cap, generated $550.51 million in free cash flow in 2025 and carries $1.1 billion in cash with zero debt. The company reported digital-only subscription revenue of $389.04 million in the first quarter of 2026, up 16.1% year over year, and digital advertising growth of 31.6%. The stock trades at roughly 4 times sales, well below Alphabet's 11 times sales multiple.
NYT · Capital · Positive Berkshire nearly tripled its stake, signaling strong confidence; also reports strong digital revenue growth and zero debt.
BRK-B · Capital · Neutral Berkshire's investment activity is mentioned, but the article focuses on its portfolio moves, not on Berkshire's own performance.
Zacks Highlights Four Low-Beta Defensive Stocks After Fed Holds Rates Steady
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged in the 3.5–3.75% range at its June policy meeting, while signaling a possible rate cut later this year amid persistent inflation. Against this backdrop, Zacks Investment Research recommends four low-beta defensive stocks from the consumer staples sector that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions in the past 60 days and carry a Zacks Rank #2, or Buy. The picks are American States Water Company, with a beta of 0.60 and a dividend yield of 2.61%; Consolidated Edison, with a beta of 0.27 and a yield of 3.34%; The Coca-Cola Company, with a beta of 0.35 and a yield of 2.67%; and The New York Times Company, with a beta of 0.95 and a yield of 1.26%. The Fed removed earlier wording that had hinted at additional rate cuts, and policymakers suggested future rate increases could still be on the table if needed, after cutting rates by 75 basis points at the end of 2025. Inflation remains a key concern, with the Consumer Price Index rising 0.5% in May following a 0.6% increase in April, and the Iran conflict pushing oil prices to record levels.
New York Times Co. Outperforms Consumer Staples Sector Year-to-Date
New York Times Co. has returned 7.3% year-to-date, outperforming the Consumer Staples sector's average return of 6.6%. The company holds a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), and its full-year earnings consensus estimate has risen 5.1% over the past quarter. Within the sector, the Publishing - Newspapers industry, of which New York Times Co. is the sole member, has lost an average of 0.6% year-to-date. Another Consumer Staples stock, United Natural Foods, has returned 47.5% year-to-date and also carries a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
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