Rhode Island Companies Face Variability Amid Economic Turmoil

Categories: Rhode Island Business NewsRhode Island News

An illustration of Rhode Island's economic landscape reflecting market volatility.

News Summary

Rhode Island’s publicly traded companies are experiencing mixed stock performances due to ongoing economic challenges since tariffs were announced in April. While CVS Health and United Natural Foods have shown growth, companies like Bally’s and AstroNova are facing significant declines. Market analysts express concerns regarding the broader implications of trade policies, especially given a potential recession that could further impact local firms. As businesses navigate these challenges, their responses will be crucial in determining future stability in the market.

Rhode Island has been navigating through a turbulent economic landscape as its publicly traded companies have faced a mixed performance amid ongoing market volatility since President Trump assumed office. Following the announcement of tariffs in April, the stock prices of various Rhode Island-based firms have experienced fluctuations, although some have shown signs of recovery over the past two months.

As of June 26, 2025, the stock prices of key companies are as follows:

CVS Health: Stock price at $68.14, reflecting a 16.8% increase from $58.36 on June 27, 2024, with a market cap of $86.2 billion.
Textron: Stock price currently at $80.26, a decrease of 7% from $86.34 on June 27, 2024, and a market cap of $14.5 billion.
Hasbro: Prices have risen to $72.31, marking a remarkable 24.3% increase from $58.16 a year prior, leading to a market cap of $10.1 billion.
Citizens Bank: Stock is priced at $44.12, up 27.4% from $34.63 on June 27, 2024, with a market cap of $19.1 billion.
Washington Trust: Current stock price is $28.17, an increase of 6.3% from $26.51 last year, with a market cap of $543.4 million.
United Natural Foods: Stock has surged to $21.48, a significant 66.5% increase from $12.90 on June 27, 2024, and with a market cap of $1.3 billion.
Bally’s: The stock price has dropped to $9.96, reflecting a steep decline of 54.87% from $22.07 on November 21, 2024, with a market cap of $488.2 million.
AstroNova: Currently priced at $9.28, down 38.75% from $15.15 a year ago, with a market cap of $70.5 million.

The impact of economic instability has been felt deeply across sexectors, particularly for Hasbro, which saw its stock plummet by 20% following the tariff announcements. About 40% of the company’s products are sourced from China, making it particularly vulnerable to changes in trade policies. This vulnerability has led to considerations of relocating its headquarters from Pawtucket to Boston, although a decision has been postponed until the summer, with local officials offering various incentives to retain the company in Rhode Island.

Market analysts have pointed to the broader implications of the tariff policies and trade disputes initiated during Trump’s administration. Following the announcement of these tariffs, many companies in the state saw their stock prices drop substantially within 48 hours, reflecting widespread investor anxiety. Concerns have only heightened as Goldman Sachs has recently indicated a 45% chance of an impending recession, putting further pressure on both local and national markets.

Overall, while some companies like CVS Health and United Natural Foods have demonstrated resilience and notable growth in their stock values, others like Bally’s and AstroNova have struggled significantly, reflecting the varying levels of exposure each firm has to the ongoing economic turmoil. Moving forward, the stability of Rhode Island’s publicly traded companies will largely depend on both the national economic climate and the individual business strategies that firms adopt in response to these challenges.

As Rhode Island continues navigating through this economic turbulence, the performance of its publicly traded companies will be closely monitored, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting clarity on future economic policies and their potential impacts.