Trump Tariffs Roil Semiconductor, Mineral Stocks: Billionaire Dan Loeb's Portfolio Faces Grueling Test

Author: Lekha Gupta | April 16, 2025 12:08pm

President Donald Trump established a new body within the Commerce Department to manage the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, benefiting companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (NYSE:TSM).

Here's a look at some of hedge fund manager Dan Loeb‘s semiconductor and electrical stocks year-to-date:

• NET Power Inc. (NYSE:NPWR) shares dropped 79.89%; its peer, Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE), saw a decline of 24.71% YTD. As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the investor retained a stake of 500,000 shares (same as in the third quarter of 2024).
• Taiwan Semiconductor stock tumbled 24.58% versus VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) decline of 19.44% YTD. Third Point held 1.78 million shares in the contract chipmaker as of December 2024.

Separately, the Trump administration excluded a range of technology products, including consumer electronics, from the 145% reciprocal tariffs bucket.

Still, the tariff dispute between the U.S. and China is getting worse. A White House fact sheet has revealed that the Trump administration raised tariffs on Chinese imports by up to 245% “as a result of its retaliatory actions."

The White House argues that tariffs on critical minerals and their derivative products were levied to protect the U.S. defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation.

Mineral stocks in Loeb’s portfolio are also on the downtrend:

• Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE:CRS) shares fell 2.93% compared to Invesco Dorsey Wright Basic Materials Momentum ETF (NASDAQ:PYZ), which dipped 8.53% YTD. As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the investor held a stake of 870,000 shares, up from 660,000 shares as of the third quarter of 2024.

Read Next:

• Tariffs Test Loeb’s Financial Picks: Third Point Adjusts Bets As Markets Brace For Economic Blowback

Image: Shutterstock

Posted In: BE CRS NPWR PYZ SMH TSM