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Tariffs, forecast cuts, and Nestlé’s $27B Q1

Plus: What's CFOs' secret weapon for battling economic uncertainty?

Author

Marina Mouka
May 19, 2025

Weekender Digest

WEEKLY EDITION BY MARINA MOUKA

Welcome to your latest CFO's Weekend Digest, your go-to source for the week’s top insights and updates tailored for financial leaders.

In this issue, you'll find:

  • CFOs are focusing on controllables—cash, cost, and flexibility—to navigate uncertainty.

  • Major US companies are revising forecasts and strategies to offset rising tariff risks.

  • Nestlé beats Q1 sales forecasts with price hikes, but tariff risks linger.

We’re here to ensure you stay informed, inspired, and ready to tackle the week ahead.

 

TOP LONG WEEKEND READS

INSIGHTS

What's CFOs' secret weapon for battling economic uncertainty?

In the face of economic uncertainty and rising tariffs, CFOs are turning to control as their strategic advantage. Rather than trying to predict every market shift, finance leaders are focusing on cash flow, cost management, and dynamic financial planning.

By tightening credit control, renegotiating supplier contracts, and using real-time scenario modeling, CFOs are making agile, informed decisions.

Collaboration with operational and tech teams is deepening, while AI tools are helping forecast and automate processes.

INSIGHTS

How major companies are managing the uncertainty of tariffs

As tariffs re-emerge as a major economic disruptor, companies like Kraft Heinz, JetBlue, Coca-Cola, GM, and UPS are adjusting forecasts and strategies to manage uncertainty.

Kraft Heinz downgraded its earnings outlook amid inflation and cost pressures, while JetBlue cited weakened demand linked to rising consumer costs.

Coca-Cola is navigating aluminum tariffs with supply chain shifts, and GM is reassessing forecasts due to increased production costs.

UPS flagged China-related risks, and Sherwin-Williams, though less exposed, is still contending with higher material prices.

INSIGHTS

How did Nestlé beat quarterly sales expectations

Nestlé surpassed Q1 2025 sales expectations with 2.8% organic growth, driven by a 2.1% price increase on products like Kit-Kat and Nescafé. Total reported sales reached 22.6 billion Swiss francs ($27.28 billion), slightly ahead of forecasts.

While volume growth lagged at 0.7%, the company maintained its full-year outlook, projecting organic growth and a profit margin of at least 16%. Nestlé’s local U.S. production—covering over 95% of its sales—helped buffer tariff impacts, though uncertainty remains over indirect effects on costs and consumers.

Finance chief Anna Manz flagged commodities and select product categories as areas most exposed to tariff-related disruption.

MORE THAN A NEWSLETTER

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