Brian Sozzi

    Executive Editor

    Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance’s Executive Editor. He also hosts executive interviews for Yahoo Finance's 'All Markets Summit' conference and 'Yahoo Finance Presents' digital series. Sozzi was previously the Executive Editor of publicly traded financial media company TheStreet. He led editorial direction for multimedia publications TheStreet, The Deal, several subscription news and data services, video and the company's conference business. He was a member of TheStreet's executive management team and reported directly to the founder, CEO and chairman. Sozzi began his career on Wall Street as a sell-side stock analyst covering retailers, banks and numerous other sectors. He won the 2011 FT | StarMine Analyst Award for No. 3 Earnings Estimator in the Textiles Apparel and Luxury Goods Industry.

  • Walmart CFO: Shoppers still in stores, but wallets 'stretched'

    Walmart (WMT) posted its first quarter report revealing a profit of $5.10 billion for the quarter and a 21% year-over-year growth in eCommerce sales. The company also posted its full-year guidance for 2025, with projected adjusted earnings of $2.23 to $2.37 per share. While the numbers showed a strong quarter for the retail giant, US retail sales were unexpectedly flat in April.  Walmart CFO John David Rainey joins Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to discuss Walmart's first quarter performance, the state of the consumer, and Walmart's movement toward tech. Rainey characterizes consumer strength as relatively consistent: "Here we see that wallets are still stretched. They're still looking for value. They're still using discretion with buying those higher-income items. I think notably retail sales came out yesterday showing April was relatively flat. We think when we look at our business that that's largely the result of the Easter shift year over year from March to April or April to March, I should say, and also weather impacting the month as well." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • So, I chatted with President Joe Biden: My notes behind the scenes

    Here's the quick takeaway from Yahoo Finance's exclusive interview with President Joe Biden.

  • What President Biden's China tariffs mean for consumers

    Are President Biden's new China tariffs a sign of globalization going in reverse? Interactive Brokers Chief Strategist Steve Sosnick weighs in on Opening Bid with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi. Though tariffs seem high level, they really trickle down to the consumer. As Sosnick puts it, "Anything that throw sand in the gears of the economy or sand in the gears of the consumer is problematic." Watch the full interview with Steve Sosnick here.

  • Biden investments will restore manufacturing capacities: USW leader

    Through the employ of anticompetitive strategies, China's overwhelming manufacturing output forces many producers out of the global market. Namely, American steel and aluminum producers who are at a disadvantage in scale, undermined by China's over-capacities and devaluing of precious metals. But that may all change as President Biden has signed off a new round of tariffs on China that may turn the manufacturing competition on its head. The United Steelworkers (USW) International VP Roxanne Brown joins Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to talk about the pains domestic steel plants and local communities have felt through China's manufacturing encroachments, as well as the Biden administration's investments into American industry past these new tariffs. "President Biden, today, really expanded the [Sanction] 301 tariffs, but on top of that, he has laid across investment policies — not just tariffs — but an investment policy to help domestic industry grow in the future. We're not talking about a short-term solution, we're talking about a long-term, generations-long solution," Brown explains. Brown anticipates steel prices to "level out" in the wake of these tariffs as capacity returns to manufacturing hubs and confidence returns to the US economy: "Hopefully that's a message a lot of Americans hear. It [the economy] feels strong and we see it across a lot of our sectors where companies want to hire because there is so much work to be done." Catch Brian Sozzi's exclusive interview with President Biden where he discusses what these new trade tariffs hope to achieve. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Why China is a problem for US manufacturing: Union leader

    President Biden is taking on China, raising tariffs on things like electric vehicles and semiconductors. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo Finance, Biden says the tariffs are aimed at "saving American jobs," a notion he reiterated at a White House event. One of those attending the event was International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers International President Brian Bryant. He told Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor Brian Sozzi that China is a problem because "they are subsidizing their industries, which we don't do here in the US," allowing the country to flood the market with their products. Bryant says Biden's policies "are bringing manufacturing back home," adding that "thousands" of jobs are being created as a result. Bryant notes his members are concerned about the economy and inflation, but he believes Biden's policies will ultimately bring prices back down. Be sure to watch the full Yahoo Finance exclusive interview with President Biden here.  This post was written by Stephanie Mikulich.

  • Biden tariffs will 'level playing field' for workers: AFL-CIO pres.

    After officially enacting new tariffs against China on Tuesday, President Biden told Yahoo Finance in an exclusive interview that he hopes to protect American workers and industry from China's manufacturing over-capacities that are widely regarded as anticompetitive and unfair. "It's created an unlevel playing field for workers where you have an auto worker struggling to keep a good job in the auto industry because they're competing against a country that's taking advantage of manipulating their currency or instituting unfair practices," American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President Liz Shuler tells Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi The AFL-CIO is America's largest union federation comprised of 60 unions — both domestic and international — and over 12 million employed and retired workers. Shuler provides several examples of the methods China has used to undermine American workers, including steel and aluminum producers, while outlining the trust union leaders have in President Biden. With Trump "we saw empty promises around infrastructure investment for years. Infrastructure Week came and went. The president paid lip service to it, President Trump," Shuler says. "And now we're seeing an actual 'money where your mouth is' with the investments that President Biden has shepherded through. We're seeing good union jobs. You know, it's one thing to create jobs, but to have good jobs where people can actually make a living, provide for their families is a whole separate story. Catch Brian Sozzi's exclusive interview with President Biden where he discusses what these new trade tariffs hope to achieve. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Biden tariffs should be no surprise to China: US Trade Rep.

    The Biden Administration's implementation of tariffs targeting $18 billion worth of Chinese goods has sparked discussions around the ongoing trade tensions between the two economic powerhouses. In an interview with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai sheds light on the reasoning behind these tariff measures. Tai emphasizes that the new tariffs "shouldn't come as a surprise to China," noting that the administration "has been very, very clear" about the challenges it has faced with China and the persistent trade frictions. She attributes these long-standing challenges as the catalyst for the steps taken by the Biden administration. When it comes to the possibility of Chinese retaliation, Tai acknowledges the uncertainty, stating, "I can't speak for China." However, she suggests that depending on China's response, it "will potentially reinforce the reasons for our taking these measures," which stem from "a history of anti-competitive and unfair trade practices." Tai further explains that China's approach to trade and production has resulted in a global dependence on Chinese trade, supply, and production, effectively "driving other producers out of the global marketplace" — a situation she deems "untenable." "At this point, our concern is how do we continue to make space for American producers and workers," Tai told Yahoo Finance. Catch Brian Sozzi's exclusive interview with President Biden where he discusses what these new trade tariffs hope to achieve. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • China tariffs will boost national security: Century Aluminum CEO

    The Biden administration's decision to impose tariffs on $18 billion worth of Chinese goods across various sectors, including aluminum and steel, has sparked discussions about the potential benefits for domestic manufacturers. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi is joined by Century Aluminum (CENX) CEO Jesse Gary to discuss how these aluminum and steel tariffs against China will benefit American producers and plant workers, including that of his own company. Gary highlights a concerning imbalance, emphasizing that China produces a staggering 60% of the world's aluminum, while the United States has only 4 smelters dedicated to aluminum production— attributing this to "unfair trade practices on the Chinese side." Gary notes that aluminum has a plethora of use cases in modern-day life, making the inability to produce it domestically "a major problem." "Everyone realizes that in order to be secure, in order to have economic security and national security, we need to be able to produce these core critical minerals at home," Gary tells Yahoo Finance, adding that he is "thrilled" to see the promotion of domestic manufacturers through these tariff measures. Catch Brian Sozzi's exclusive interview with President Biden where he discusses what these new trade tariffs hope to achieve. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • China tariffs will help US producers, ease inflation: CEA Chair

    The Biden administration enacted new trade tariffs against China that will significantly raise taxes on imported EVs, semiconductors, and solar panels. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo Finance, President Biden called the tariffs a matter of "being fair" as China floods consumer markets with cheaper products from its leading manufacturing sectors. Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Jared Bernstein joins Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi, echoing Biden's sentiments on the protections these tariffs will allow for American workers and industry. "[It's] very unfair, whether it's forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, or, in this case, developing excess capacity and essentially dumping under price to areas here where this president has made really transformational investments," Bernstein tells Yahoo Finance. "That's not just unfair today, that has unfair implications for the future. So with this move, the president protects American investors, American workers, the American taxpayer, all by blocking unfair trade in a strategic and targeted manner." Unlike the tariffs proposed by former President Trump in his current presidential bid, Bernstein explains Biden's "targeted" policies will "help producers" while not harming consumers. The administration hopes to combat inflationary pressures through tariffs as households tangle with a variety of economic factors. "Yes, we have an anti-inflationary agenda... if we can build out American capacity, protecting it from unfair competition from China, that's gonna help on the supply side, and that helps put some downward pressure on inflation," Bernstein elaborates. "But inflation is not the same as the price level, right? You can have inflation growing more slowly, but prices still rising. So we are trying to cut costs, actually cut prices in key areas for the American consumer." Watch Yahoo Finance's broadcast of the White House event where President Biden spoke on the tariffs. Brian Sozzi also sat down with President Biden in an exclusive interview to discuss what these new trade policies hope to achieve. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • China tariffs are about 'being fair,' Biden tells Yahoo Finance

    The Biden administration is raising tariffs on $18 billion worth of imports from China. It includes raising the tariffs on electric vehicles from 25% to 100% and on semiconductors from 25% to 50%. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo Finance, President Biden says, "China is fundamentally underwriting their entire industries" and will "pay whatever it takes" to saturate a market with their own goods. Biden argues that the new tariffs are aimed at saving American jobs. When it comes to EVs, for example, Biden tells Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi that China is trying to "flood the market with EVs that are incredibly cheap. They're not making any money on them [and] deliberately doing it to put other people out of business." Ultimately, he says, the new tariffs are about "being fair." Biden expects China to talk about retaliation, but he thinks the actual response will be minimal. "They'll probably try to figure out how they can raise tariffs, maybe on products that are unrelated." One thing Biden has been struggling with is the fact that Americans are still frustrated with stubbornly high inflation, which has risen nearly 20% since he took office. Biden acknowledges that "people are just uncertain" about the economy right now, but he plans to "be steady, stay the course," adding it's "going to take a little more time." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here.

  • President Biden unveils a historic wave of tariffs on 'strategic' Chinese imports

    President Joe Biden ramps up pressure on China with new targeted tariffs on a range of goods as his rival Donald Trump weighs even more draconian measures should the Republican win in November.

  • China tariffs, Nvidia earnings, how to view Apple: Opening Bid

    The trade war with China has become a key talking point in the 2024 election, with President Joe Biden expected to increase tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and former President Trump suggesting a 60% tariff on goods from the country. Interactive Brokers Chief Strategist Steve Sosnick weighs in on what it could mean for investors. He also tells Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi about what he's looking for from Nvidia (NVDA) earnings and why Apple is "the premiere value stock." Click here for more Opening Bid. This post was written by Stephanie Mikulich.

  • Here's 1 big investing mistake you are probably still making

    Maybe a 5% CD isn't the best choice for your hard-earned money.

  • How to spot the tech unicorn to invest in: Opening Bid

    Finding the right investment can sometimes be difficult, while finding a sleeper hit investment that grows into something like Ring can seem impossible. M13 is known for investing in early-stage, disruptive tech companies that revolutionize consumers everyday life. But how can investors at any stage learn how to spot a tech unicorn like Ring? How can investors tell the difference between what's good and what's too good to be true? Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi is joined by M13 Co-Founder Carter Reum to give insight into finding success in calculated investments, spotting liars in business, AI in the labor force, and much more. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • Buy now, pay later isn't creating 'phantom debt': Affirm CEO

    Affirm (AFRM) topped fiscal revenue estimates and narrowed expected losses per share in its third quarter earnings report. Affirm Founder and CEO Max Levchin joins Market Domination to break down the company's future as it navigates the Fed's high interest rates. "There is an oft-repeated narrative that it's a huge problem for Affirm that the rates are not coming down. And that's just plain inaccurate," Levchin tells Brian Sozzi. "So long as we are keeping job losses in check, people are able to spend, people are able to transact, people are also able to pay their bills, and that's really good for Affirm," he explains, attributing the company's strong quarter to the Fed's consistent rates. Levchin adds, "The economy is in a better shape than popular opinion will have you believe...From where we sit, people are spending," he explains, saying that Affirm's users are still able to pay their bills. While Affirm reported a strong quarter, not everyone is sold on the buy now, pay later scheme. Critics often point to the program as potentially creating a phantom debt issue, which Levchin aims to debunk. Monthly installments are reported to credit bureaus, he explains, adding that the weighted average life of 6-week loans is 3 weeks. "That is just a headline that is made up to get people riled up and click," he says. The CEO says that Affirm users are paying their bills "in a very predictable fashion." While describing credit cards as "buy now, pay forever," he says that Affirm has a rigid system that gives users control over their finances and allows them to adjust their payment timelines if needed, with no incremental fees. Having spent many years in the tech industry before Affirm, Levchin dubs himself as "an extreme techno-optimist." He says that people should be excited about artificial intelligence and points to Affirm's recent initiatives to use AI as a customer service agent. "We still guarantee that any human who wants to talk to a human will be able to do so," he explains, but overall, the company found that around 60% of the time, its AI chatbot satisfies user inquiries. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Market Domination. This post was written by Melanie Riehl

  • SEC is taking a 'hostile' approach to crypto: Robinhood CEO

    Robinhood Markets (HOOD) recently received a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about an alleged violation of registrations as a securities broker and transfer agent. The trading platform disclosed it was sent investigative subpoenas concerning cryptocurrency listings and custody. Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev joins Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to discuss the SEC's concerns with Robinhood's cryptocurrency arm and the state of regulation toward digital currencies. Tenev outlines the story with the SEC so far: "We have been trying to work with the SEC in good faith to register a special purpose broker dealer to trade crypto assets. Obviously that process was not reciprocated and that's unfortunate. We do believe we have the most compliant and safest crypto platform out there for customers. We're, as you probably know, extremely selective about the coins that we offer on the platform. They go through a rigorous vetting process, so it appears that the SEC is taking a hostile posture towards the crypto industry in general in the US." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Market Domination. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • Robinhood retirement accounts offer 'compelling' values: CEO

    Robinhood Markets (HOOD) posted its first-quarter results which revealed a gain in revenue, up 40% year-over-year, with revenue from crypto up 232%. Among the positive results showed thousands of customers sign up for Robinhood's retirement account offering, potentially on the back of rising retirement concerns around Social Security insolvencies. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi is joined by Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev to discuss the trading platform's successful quarter as well as the drivers for asset inflows, the boost from crypto engagement, and more. "When we talk to customers, particularly for our retirement product, they love the user experience and the 3% match that is evergreen for contributions is just among the most compelling offers they've seen," Tenev tells Yahoo Finance's Market Domination. "A lot of them don't have 401(k)s through employers. The ones that do sometimes don't have employers that match, so having Robinhood provide that service in an individual self-directed retirement product is really compelling." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Market Domination. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • Reddit is maturing as a company, CEO says

    Reddit shows that growing up fast may be good news for shareholders.

  • Reddit CEO: here comes profits and new tech

    Reddit (RDDT) beat first-quarter estimates on the top and bottom line in the social media platform's first earnings report since going public in March. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman joins Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to talk the website's earnings figures, its CapEx (capital expenditure) spending, and Reddit's plans to revamp its user interface. "The thing about Reddit is its communities, and those communities represent every interest and hobby and passion imaginable. Which means in addition to being fun for users, basically every company's customers are on Reddit somewhere. and our ads technology is getting better and better," Huffman states. "And so if you're a company trying to reach your customers and know that 30% of our users are not on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok, other big advertising platforms, as a company, you can find your customers uniquely on Reddit, often in a moment where they're talking about your product or brand or vertical." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Wealth! This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • 'Short-term volatility' ahead of election season: Nuveen CIO

    With new inflation data and the April Jobs report falling short of expectations, the Federal Reserve is in a tough spot, potentially putting investors in a tougher spot due to uncertainty. With the election season heating up, there is mounting challenges for the market. Yahoo Finance Anchors Brian Sozzi and Akiko Fujita are joined by Nuveen Investments CIO Saira Malik at the Annual Milken Global Institute Conference to discuss what investors need to keep in mind as the election approaches during this current economic environment. Malik reminds investors what they need to pay attention to: "We do have new things to consider this year even though the candidates are known, which would be sort of a positive for the markets because they like transparency and clarity. Think about artificial intelligence, potential misinformation, international issue issues, how we're dealing with all of these geopolitical issues. Those are going to be important to the voters. And that could also impact market movements and election volatility." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Wealth! This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino