Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

(Bloomberg) -- US plastic suppliers say they are running out of room to absorb high costs of raw materials, raising the prospect of price increases for consumer goods ranging from groceries to cars later this year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

SpaceX IPO Raises $75 Billion in Biggest Debut of All Time Xbox Plans Significant Layoffs as New CEO Plans Overhaul Trump Insists Iran Deal Is Close After Scrapping New Strikes Trump Vows New Attacks on Iran, Threatens Key Energy Targets UAE and Iran Meet Face-to-Face to Try to Deescalate Tensions

A gauge of wholesale prices of plastic resins and materials jumped by 14% to an almost four-year high last month as the Iran war choked off supplies of key components. For producers like Shawn Gross, whose Corry, Pennsylvania-based company supplies molded parts used in automotive and heating systems, the squeeze is reaching a breaking point.

“We are going to need to pursue the price increases with our customers more aggressively,” said Gross, chief executive officer of Viking Plastics. “What the world needs to understand is there is going to be a real impact that is not even yet felt.”

Plastics are everywhere — from snack packaging to refrigerator parts — and about 98% of it is made of fossil fuels. One reason why US consumers haven’t felt the full impact of the war-driven price increases in petrochemicals like polyethylene that are used in everyday products is because costs move slowly through supply chains.

Gross, whose suppliers include Dow Inc. and clients include Ford Motor Co., is at the center of it all. Prices for some polyethylene inputs used by Viking have risen more than 40% this year, he said.

Petrochemical prices have retreated from their highs in recent weeks as demand has softened and oil prices fell below $100 a barrel, but they remain well above their pre-conflict levels. Much of the damage is already done anyway, according to Gross.

Producers like Dow have already pushed through price hikes to businesses that convert plastic resins into packaging and other products. As those costs are passed from one company to the next, higher prices ultimately make their way to consumers.

“You need to get the dollars and cents out of the customer, and that’s going to trickle into the price of vehicles being higher,” Gross said. “It’s going to be every industry.”

Manufacturers in Asia and Europe were the first to come under strain because they depend largely on naphtha, a crude-derived feedstock that is used to make ethylene and propylene. Shortages of naphtha-derived ink materials even forced a Japanese snack maker to temporarily switch some products to black-and-white packaging.

Story Continues

The US was relatively spared because many petrochemical plants run on ethane from shale gas — a cheaper alternative to naphtha that has been less affected by the Middle East conflict.

But as Asian and European buyers compete for supplies, raw materials are starting to run short in the US too, prompting companies to hoard inventory and putting additional pressures on costs.

Edward Dominion, founder of consumer-goods packaging firm D6 Inc., said raw material costs for his Sulphur Springs, Texas-based company have doubled alongside increases in freight, fuel and transportation. He, too, is already working to pass on the costs to customers.

Some buyers are receiving only about 70% of the resin they need, he said, while lead times for certain materials have stretched from one to three months. Fresh-food packaging — for products like produce, bakery goods, meat and cheese — will get hit first.

If shortages persist, shoppers could begin seeing gaps on shelves by August and September, he said.

“It gets real when somebody wants to go to the shelf and buy something and it’s not there,” Dominion said.

Lowe’s, Whirlpool

In earnings calls, large corporations across industries are warning about the rise in plastics costs.

Lowe’s Cos., the home-improvement chain, said in May that it was working with suppliers to mitigate the impact of higher prices in commodities including resin and “sharing in that burden.”

Whirlpool Corp., whose refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines contain dozens of plastic components, expects higher resin prices to drive up raw material costs in the second half, CEO Marc Bitzer told investors last month.

Restaurant chain Cava Group Inc. told investors it has built higher energy-related costs into its annual guidance, including pressure from fuel surcharges, utilities and polyethylene expenses tied to food, beverage and packaging.

Meanwhile, Costco Wholesale Corp. flagged rising costs across parts of its supply chain as petroleum-derived inputs become more expensive.

“We are anticipating further inflation in a number of non-food categories as higher resin costs start to flow into cost-of-goods,” Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip said during the retailer’s quarterly earnings call. “Particularly if oil prices remain at elevated levels, it’s likely to see some increases in items that have sort of plastic components or polyester or cotton because of the impact of higher resin costs.”

Consumers are already paying more for necessities, from fuel to food, and household savings buffers have thinned since the last major inflation surge in 2022. The consumer-price index jumped 4.2% in May, the highest inflation rate in over three years, mainly because of energy costs.

As the plastics shock moves closer to consumers, it will likely add more challenges for President Donald Trump and Republicans ahead of midterm elections in the fall.

In a recent impromptu conversation at a local Pennsylvania restaurant, Gross, the molding-company executive, said he tried to explain as much to his local Republican congressman.

“I told him, I believe Republicans will suffer in the midterms because of this inflation, and it’s detrimental to our business,” said Gross. “It’s going to put pressure on us through the rest of the year. Whether they can do anything about it, I have no idea.”

--With assistance from Christopher Charleston and Devika Krishna Kumar.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Gen Z’s Latest Career Flex: A Boardroom Seat How a Tiny British Island Fell Into an International Gambling Scandal The Bankrupting of a Mobile Home Billionaire Ice Cream Not Decadent Enough for You? Dip It in Butter SpaceX IPO Demands Trust in Musk’s Entangled Empire

©2026 Bloomberg L.P.

View Comments

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Key Points

Surging demand for AI data center infrastructure has opened opportunities for companies you might not expect. Caterpillar has developed autonomous fleets of machinery and is now targeting AI power generation. Storing energy is becoming necessary for data centers, and Ford has unique abilities to meet this demand.10 stocks we like better than Ford Motor Company ›

The accelerating hype behind artificial intelligence (AI) is perhaps matched only by the rapid growth in demand for the computing power and electricity required to run it all. The need for energy storage and electricity for AI data centers is expanding so rapidly that local power grids are having difficulties keeping pace.

That creates opportunity. Two companies that investors might not expect are capitalizing -- and they offset some risk by having significant dividends: Caterpillar(NYSE: CAT) and Ford Motor Company(NYSE: F).

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »

An AI play overlooked for decades

While most investors associate Caterpillar with construction and mining machinery, management sees a lucrative technology opportunity developing with AI: its potential to generate a new revenue stream at higher margins than its traditional business.

The company sells enormous engines, turbines, and generator sets that AI data centers use for both primary and continuous backup power, giving it a faster-growing revenue stream. As you can see in the graphic below, Wall Street has taken notice, and the stock has soared over the past year.

If you missed out on the one-year surge in Caterpillar shares, there is still growth to be had. "We think [this] is more of a 2027/2028 story than a 2025/2026 story," Citigroup analyst Kyle Menges says, according to Barron's.

What most investors probably aren't aware of is that the company has an autonomous-mining fleet that's one of the largest and most proven in the world. Management's research on autonomous machines started decades ago, and now the company is taking it a step forward after unveiling multiple intelligent-product lines that will include autonomous excavators, loaders, hauling trucks, bulldozers, and compactors driven by a rise in AI.

Caterpillar is an intriguing mix of potential with its products becoming more powerful for its clients through AI and autonomy, while it also benefits from faster-growing segments due to increasing energy and storage demand.

The icing on the cake is that Caterpillar also offers investors safety: It has paid a cash dividend every year since it was formed, a quarterly dividend since 1933, and a higher annual dividend for 32 consecutive years.

Under the radar

Similar to Caterpillar, Ford's most-hyped business right now has absolutely nothing to do with producing vehicles. Unbeknownst to many, Ford has spent most of the past year building the foundation for Ford Energy. Ford Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company and will provide battery energy storage systems (BESS) for data centers and other large industrial customers in the U.S.

The Detroit automaker's flagship product, named the Ford Energy DC block, is a 20-foot containerized BESS that comes in two configurations designed to provide its customers with predictable lifetime performance, from a company that is stable enough to assure that it will be around for servicing if necessary.

Image source: Ford Motor Company.

Ford plans to invest roughly $2 billion into its energy business initially, and after working quietly to build out its supply chains and manufacturing sites, it aims to start deliveries in late 2027. Morgan Stanley estimates Ford Energy could generate between $500 million to $600 million of run-rate earnings before interest and taxes at 20 gigawatt hours of production capacity.

Like Caterpillar, Ford offers a measure of safety with a dividend that sits at a 4% yield. And in recent years when cash flow is strong, it's often boosted by a supplemental dividend.

What it all means

Besides rapidly changing the way many businesses operate, AI also offers opportunities for companies that can power its significant demand for energy and its storage. Investors could blindfold themselves and throw a dart and land on any number of projections that suggest the AI data center market and global power demand are expected to surge over the next decade.

And while many will continue to overlook Ford's and Caterpillar's ties to AI and energy, savvy investors understand their potential to generate new revenue streams, higher margins, and potentially better valuations.

Should you buy stock in Ford Motor Company right now?

Before you buy stock in Ford Motor Company, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Ford Motor Company wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $442,220! Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,230,114!

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 926% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 203% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 11, 2026.

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Daniel Miller has positions in Ford Motor Company. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Caterpillar. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Der Markt der Automobilaktien bietet Investoren die Wahl zwischen etablierten Marken und schnell wachsenden Start-ups. Für Investoren, die Zugang zum sich ändernden Automobilmarkt suchen, müssen sie zwischen Legacy-Reliabilität und hohem Wachstumspotenzial wählen, wenn sie Ford Motor (NYSE:F) oder Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) für ihr Portfolio auswählen. Ford Motor ist ein globales Machtwerk mit einem riesigen internen Verbrennungsmotor-Geschäft, während es sich auf Elektromobilität und Software-Dienste umstellt. Rivian Automotive ist ein rein elektrischer Fahrzeughersteller, der sich auf Premium-Konsumtrucks und kommerzielle Lieferwagen konzentriert.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Der Tesla-Chef Elon Musk ist nur eine Woche von seinem nächsten großen Vorhaben entfernt: der Börseneinführung seiner Raumfahrtgesellschaft SpaceX. Dieses Ereignis wird genügen, um Musks Nettovermögen über die Grenze zu bringen und ihn zum ersten Trillionär der Welt zu machen. ... (rest of content)

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ: RIVN), das elektrische Pick-up-Trucks und SUVs entwickelt und verkauft, schloss am Mittwoch bei $18,27, was einem Anstieg von 5,67% entspricht. Der Kurs stieg nach Berichten über starkes Interesse an den R2-SUV-Orders und nach robusten Ergebnissen in der Vergangenheit. Investoren beobachten eng die Nachfrage nach R2 und potenzielle Lizenzierungsverträge.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Investoren, die davon ausgehen, dass weitere alte Auto-Unternehmen von dem Boom der künstlichen Intelligenz profitieren werden, erhielten einen weiteren Stempel der Zustimmung von Wall Street. Unternehmen in der Automobilindustrie sind gut positioniert, um von der unersättlichen Nachfrage nach Kraft und Batterieinfrastruktur zu profitieren, wenn sich die Anwendungen von künstlicher Intelligenz verbreiten. Century-old Car-Maker Ford Motor Co. und Auto-Zulieferer BorgWarner Inc. haben bereits ihre Aktien aufgrund der KI-Begeisterung gesteigert. Ford-Aktien erreichten kürzlich ihr bestes Monat in 17 Jahren, nachdem sie ein Energiespeichersegment lanciert hatten. BorgWarner-Aktien stiegen um mehr als 70% im Jahr 2026 an, da das Unternehmen seine Bemühungen zur Verkauf von Speichersystemen an Datenzentren erweitert hat.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Die Tesla-Aktie ist am Dienstag gestiegen, nachdem CEO Elon Musk an die Investoren erinnerte, wo sein EV-Unternehmen begonnen hat und wie weit es gekommen ist. Man sollte nicht erwarten, dass SpaceX denselben Weg geht, selbst wenn Musk versucht, die Bewertung von SpaceX zu rechtfertigen.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Zum Abschluss der Q1-Erträge analysieren wir die Zahlen und Schlüsselerkenntnisse für die Automobilhersteller, einschließlich General Motors (NYSE:GM) und seiner Konkurrenten.

Die Herstellung von Autos erfordert viel Kapital und technisches Know-how. Die Zugangsbarrieren sind daher hoch, und Autohersteller mit Skaleneffekten können eine starke wirtschaftliche Befestigung aufweisen. Allerdings schützt dies sie nicht vor neuen Eingreifern, da Elektrofahrzeuge (EVs) den Markt umgestoßen haben und die etablierten Hersteller dazu gezwungen haben, nicht nur mit neuartigen EV-ersten Konkurrenten zu konkurrieren, sondern auch darüber nachzudenken, wie viel sie in diese disruptiven Technologien investieren möchten, die wahrscheinlich ihre Legacy-Angebote erodieren werden.

Die 10 Automobilhersteller, die wir verfolgen, berichteten über ein sehr starkes Q1. Als Gruppe übertrafen sie die von Analysten erwartete Umsatzprognose um 0,7%.

Glücklicherweise haben die Aktien der Unternehmen eine resiliente Entwicklung gezeigt, da sie durchschnittlich seit den neuesten Earnings-Ergebnissen um 9,1% gestiegen sind.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Teslas Wiederherstellung in Europa gewann im Mai an Fahrt, da der Elektroautohersteller starke jährliche Umsatzwachstumsraten in mehreren großen Märkten verzeichnete und einen Rekordwert für den Mai in Frankreich erreichte. Laut Daten von verschiedenen europäischen Automobilverbänden stiegen die Tesla-Registrierungen im Vergleich zum Vorjahreszeitraum deutlich in Frankreich, Dänemark, Spanien, Schweden und Norwegen an. Die Zahlen zeigen, dass Teslas Wende in Europa, die bereits dieses Jahr begann, weiter anhält, nachdem sie 2025 eine Herausforderung war. Frankreich verzeichnete den stärksten Anstieg. In dem Land erreichten Tesla-Registrierungen im Mai 5446 Fahrzeuge, was einem jährlichen Wachstum von 655 % entspricht. Der Wert stellt Teslas höchste je erreichte Verkaufszahl für den Monat Mai in Frankreich dar und gehört zu seinen besten monatlichen Leistungen in dem Land insgesamt.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

Der Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) ist um 9% im Jahr bis dato gestiegen und um 25% im Vergleich zum Vorjahr. Der iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) verwaltet 47,1 Milliarden Euro mit einer Kostenquote von 0,15%. Der VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT) verwendet eine gleichgewichtete Anlagestrategie und konzentriert sich auf Unternehmen mit breiten Wettbewerbsvorteilen. Die Analysten argumentieren, dass Unternehmen mit hoher Cash-Flow-Rendite und Qualität in Zeiten erhöhter Zinsen überzeugen.