Many investors would have expected the FTSE 100 to have done a lot worse. I’m one of them. It peaked at 10,910 just before the war started on February 28. On Friday, it traded around 10,610, just 2.75% lower. It doesn’t look like a once-in-a-decade buying opportunity. Closer inspection reveals otherwise.

Investors are quick to shrug off geopolitical shocks these days. There are several possible explanations. The US is less dependent on Middle Eastern oil than it was. There are hopes the conflict will be contained. After the pandemic, Ukraine, the cost-of-living squeeze and tariffs, investors have learnt that panic selling rarely pays. Buying the dips does. Of course, the resilient mood could swiftly change if events escalate.

Cheap shares abound

However, a heap of stocks have been hit a lot harder than the index as a whole. Housebuilders Persimmon, Berkeley Group Holdings and Barratt Redrow all plunged roughly 25% as higher borrowing costs, weaker demand and rising costs spooked investors. They’ve rebounded in recent days but still sit near 10-year lows. The sector is likely to remain volatile for some time, but the sell-off looks excessive to me.

The Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RKT) share price is also a lot lower than it was a decade ago. Its 2017 acquisition of Mead Johnson Nutrition backfired amid a blizzard of lawsuits over its premature baby formula. Supply chain disruption, inflation and slower demand in developed markets added to the strain. In 2024, one of its warehouses was destroyed by a tornado.

Reckitt shares can rebound

Yet on 5 March, the Dettol, Nurofen and Durex owner reported a 5% rise in full-year revenues to £14.2bn, driven by emerging markets. Adjusted pre-tax profits climbed 5.2% to £3.32bn. The shares look stunningly cheap to me. Its price-to-earnings ratio has collapsed to below 0.6, having been above 20 not so long ago. The trailing dividend yield sits at 4.2%, well above historic norms.

It still faces challenges, amid weak European demand and fading enthusiasm for consumer staples. The Iran war and oil price spike could drive up costs and hit demand. Yes I think Reckitt is well worth considering with a long-term view.

Long-term recovery plays

Shares in telecoms giant Vodafone are up 85% over the last year but still trade below levels seen a decade ago. Legal & General is also near a 10-year low but offers the highest trailing dividend yield on the FTSE 100 at 8.4%. Spirits giant Diageo is also temptingly cheap. Patience is required though.

Autotrader, Bunzl, Croda, Entain, Intertek and Rightmove are also back around 2016 levels. I’m not saying they’re all ripe for a recovery. Turning round an ailing company takes time. It might never happen. Buy I can see bags of opportunity in today’s market. If volatility returns in the days ahead, there may be even more.

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There’s no denying it, this is a spooky time to buy shares. Global stock markets remain on tenterhooks as investors wait to see the next turn of events in the Middle East.

FTSE 100 investors must be brave

The FTSE 100‘s already had a correction, defined as a fall of at least 10%, and there could be more volatility to come. We won’t know from one day to the next. There’s one thing we do know. Loads of top blue-chips are already available at greatly reduced valuations, and offer higher yields too. Many investors relish moments like these.

The key is to choose targets carefully, and only buy with a long-term view of at least five years. That gives time for short-term volatility to pass, as it always does. We’ve already had three market shocks this decade, triggered by Covid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Donald Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariffs.

Each time, markets rebounded strongly. Those brave enough to buy at the point of maximum fear were rewarded. But as ever with equities, there are no guarantees.

Investors have options. They could target companies likely to benefit from today’s uncertainty, such as oil giants BP and Shell, or defence group BAE Systems. Alternatively, they could stick with steadier performers such as Admiral Group or a defensive stalwart British American Tobacco.

Reckitt’s dirt cheap today

Another approach is to look for stocks that have taken a beating and look better value as a result. Around 10 FTSE 100 companies have crashed 20% or more in the last month, including consumer goods group Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RKT).

Reckitt, which owns brands such as Dettol, Nurofen, Durex and Gaviscon, looks strikingly cheap. Its price-to-earnings ratio has collapsed to just 0.55, having been above 20 not so long ago. Yet the underlying business is still delivering. On 5 March, it reported a solid 5% rise in full-year revenues to £14.2bn, driven by strong growth in emerging markets. Adjusted pre-tax profits climbed 5.2% to £3.32bn.

The board also lifted the full-year dividend by 5% to 212.2p, on top of a chunky special payout earlier this year. Today, the trailing yield stands at 4.25%. That’s a lot more than usual.

However, the stock was struggling even before Iran. The Reckitt share price is flat over one year and down 20% over five, as consumer goods stocks fell out of favour and demand softened in Europe. The current crisis will double down on that. Reckitt has also struggled to rebuild investor confidence after a patchy few years. There’s no guarantee they’ll come flocking back.

Personally, I think it’s worth considering with a long-term view. But investors will need patience. For those willing to be brave, this could be a rare chance to buy quality FTSE 100 shares at reduced prices. But only with that long-term horizon.

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The FTSE 100 has withstood today’s geopolitical worries remarkably well, slipping less than 2% over the last month. It’s still up 18.5% over 12 months, with dividends on top. Sectors such as defence, energy and mining have proved resilient amid Middle East turmoil. But some individual stocks have taken a real beating.

I usually consider a company cheap when its price-to-earnings ratio falls below 12 or 13, and really cheap when it drops into single digits. These two are trading at fractional values.

Reckitt shares are down

Health, hygiene and home-care group Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RKT), which owns brands such as Dettol, Nurofen, Durex and Gaviscon, has a P/E of just 0.6. Last time I looked, it was above 20. Yet on 5 March it reported a solid 5% rise in full-year revenues to £14.2bn, helped by strong growth in emerging markets. Adjusted pre-tax profits climbed 5.2% to £3.32bn. 

The board also increased the total full-year dividend by 5% to 212.2p. That follows on the heels of a 235p special dividend in February.

Despite that, the shares have dropped 17% in the last month and are up just 2.5% over the year. They’re roughly 15% lower than five years ago.

Trading is weaker in Europe, as a mild winter hits demand for cold and flu remedies. Consumer goods stocks have also fallen out of favour more broadly as investors fear the Iran war will drive up inflation. Reckitt has struggled to regain the market’s confidence after years of bumpy performance and investors seem reluctant to give it the benefit of the doubt today.

Personally, I think Reckitt is worth considering with a long-term view, especially with a trailing dividend yield close to 4%. Yet I’m a little wary. Right now, investors just aren’t that into it.

Legal & General shares are also flat

Legal & General Group (LSE: LGEN) looks even cheaper on paper. Its P/E sits around 0.3, which is nonsensically low. Earnings per share growth has been jumping around all over the place lately, as my table shows. So has the P/E.

Legal & General should be doing better, having announced its biggest ever share buyback on 11 March, worth £1.2bn. Full-year core operating profit rose about 6% to £1.62bn, but that was slightly below forecasts.

The number most investors focus on is the yield, now the highest on the FTSE 100 at 8.9% on a trailing basis. The board just increased the payout 2%, which looks set to be the benchmark going forward. The catch is that it’s only covered around 1.1 times by earnings, so it isn’t completely bulletproof.

The Legal & General share price has slipped roughly 8% during the recent market turbulence. It’s up only about 2.5% over the last year and remains roughly 15% lower than five years ago.

I think it’s worth considering for income-focused investors but we may have to wait some time to see sustained growth. Both these shares look ridiculously cheap to me but they have their issues too.

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But when considering a SIPP, it’s critical to identify the right stocks from day one. In most cases, this means the boring — but reliable — options.

Here’s one example that perfectly demonstrates this strategy.

Planning in decades, not years

Think about the brands you see every day in high street stores — Dettol, Nurofen, Durex, Gaviscon. That’s Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RKT). Some people may not even know the company name, but they definitely know its brands.

As a consumer goods manufacturer, it sells health, hygiene and home‑care products all over the world. A lot of what it sells is everyday ‘must‑have’ stuff: cleaning sprays, painkillers, cold and flu remedies and baby formula. People buy these items in good times and bad, making sales steadier than luxury fashion, car makers or similar cyclical industries.

In 2024, the company’s like‑for‑like sales grew by 1.4%, while adjusted operating profit grew by 8.6%. Meanwhile, profit margins remained above average, at around 24.5%. That tells you two things: it managed to grow in a tricky year, and is good at turning sales into profit.

Why Reckitt can work well in a SIPP

People still need painkillers and cleaning products even in a recession, smoothing out volatility compared with riskier shares. And strong brand power makes it easier to charge higher prices, even when costs go up. Plus, it sells globally, spreading the risk if one market has a wobble.

The dividend yield has mostly sat around 3-4% in recent years, supported by a record of paying and gently growing dividends over time. Inside a SIPP, those dividends can be reinvested without tax, helping your pot grow faster.

With both return on equity (ROE) and return on invested capital (ROCE) in the mid‑teens, it’s clearly a company that knows how to turn money into profit. That’s what you want from a core, long‑term holding in a SIPP.

The downsides and risks

Reckitt’s higher-than-average P/E adds a risk of disappointment if growth slows. Unlike a value stock with more immediate recovery potential, this is a high-priced but established slow-growth stock. But in a cost‑of‑living squeeze, some shoppers swap branded products for supermarket own‑label, hurting profits.

Furthermore, it carries a fair bit of debt, with a debt‑to‑equity ratio around 1.5. When used effectively, debt can be beneficial — but if profits slip, it can become problematic.

So, is it worth a look for a SIPP?

If you’re building a SIPP for the long haul, Reckitt is the kind of share that can sit quietly in the background, doing its job while you get on with life. It sells products people actually use every day, it’s still growing profits, it pays a reasonable dividend, and it has the sort of resilience that can help you sleep at night.

For those reasons, I think it’s a name worth considering for a UK retirement portfolio.

But it shouldn’t be considered alone – ideally, a retirement portfolio should include a mix of stocks from other sectors and geographical regions. Other top options to consider include Unilever or National Grid — similarly defensive, sustainable (but boring) stocks.

The post The long game: how to identify retirement-ready SIPP stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

But a strong recovery has already started and, if that continues, the next few years could be highly lucrative for shareholders.

When considering stocks in this type of situation, it’s critical to assess why they suffered and if the problem was a one-off issue.

Weighing up risks vs growth

The main reason behind Reckitt’s losses was the catastrophic acquisition of Mead Johnson, mainly due to a legal case around its infant formula Enfamil after a baby died. The company allegedly failed to warn that cow’s milk-based formulas carry elevated necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) risk in premature infants.

It suffered a major recall in 2024, leading to chronic operational inconsistency such as weak sales, supply chain disruptions and input cost inflation that pricing couldn’t offset.

Despite a trial win in favour of Reckitt, the company’s still contemplating various options for the business, including a potential sale, signalling the litigation risk is existential. 

For 2026 investors, this is a material risk that could wipe out years of margin gains and dividend growth.

The case for recovery

Reckitt’s genuinely improving its profits through a combination of cost-cutting and real business growth. In the first half of 2025, its profit margins expanded by 1.1%, and the company cut fixed costs by 1.9% compared to a year earlier. More importantly, its core brands (health, hygiene, nutrition) grew 4.2% in the first half and accelerated to 6.7% by Q3 2025, with strong momentum in emerging markets like China (+15.5%).

Earnings per share grew 4.4% in the first half, and management expects this to continue into 2026. The dividend is forecast at 4.2% yield with sustainable growth.

At £60 a share, 396 of them would payout around $1,000 a year in dividends, costing £23,760. That’s no small amount to put into one stock, so I’d need to be fairly sure about its future prospects.

If Reckitt can exit Mead Johnson by mid-2026 with litigation capped below $1.5bn, the turnaround story survives and Core Reckitt could deliver 5%-8% returns. But if Mead Johnson remains attached or settlement costs exceed $2bn, the entire recovery narrative breaks down and the stock could fall sharply. The litigation risk’s now the dominant variable, not margin expansion.

The bottom line

Unfortunately, this is an ‘execution and litigation lottery’, not a clean turnaround play — which is why valuations remain elevated despite genuine operational progress.

I’ve remained bullish on Reckitt’s recovery over the past year, but taking in all factors, it remains too risky for me to invest more now. For investors looking for a safer — albeit lower yield — option, I think Unilever‘s a better option to consider. The stock’s also suffered losses under a high-inflation environment, with consumers opting for lower-cost alternatives.

But with interest rates set to drop in 2026, it could see a notable recovery. In the long term, I think the stock’s better-positioned to deliver reliable income.

The post 396 Reckitt Benckiser shares gets me a £1,000 annual second income. Should I buy more? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Nevertheless, with economic concerns on the rise both here and across the pond in the US, the market has started to pull back slightly since the end of October. And some bearish investors have started to speculate that a new stock market correction is about to kick off.

Given that valuations have gotten stretched, it’s easy to see why some investors are getting nervous. But it’s important to remember that predicting the stock market in the short term is exceptionally difficult. Nevertheless, let’s assume the worst and say disaster’s looming.

What are the best stocks to buy now to protect a portfolio from a volatile market downturn?

Recession-resistant stocks

During economic downturns, most businesses suffer a slowdown in sales and demand. But that’s not the case for certain industries.

Consumer staples, utilities, and defence have historically continued to chug along nicely, given that demand remains largely unaffected by temporary slowdowns in economic activity. And looking across these defensive sectors, Reckitt Benckiser (LSE:RKT), National Grid (LSE:NG.), and BAE Systems (LSE:BA.) have all proven to be recession-resistant businesses in the past.

Reckitt’s essential household products across its various brands, such as Dettol and Strepsils, have kept revenues and dividends flowing. National Grid operates with long multi-year development contracts often backed by government spending that keeps earnings growing throughout the economic cycle. BAE Systems is in a similar situation, with national defence budgets often being maintained even during recessions.

All investments have risk

Sadly, past performance doesn’t guarantee future returns. And even with their desirable defensive traits, each of these UK shares still has its weak spots.

Reckitt Benckiser remains exposed to input cost inflation, and it may struggle to pass onto consumers during a recession. As such, even if sales remain stable or continue to grow, earnings might still come under temporary pressure.

Meanwhile, National Grid’s a heavily regulated entity with price caps limiting earnings growth – a significant handicap for a business that relies on substantial debt financing. And as for BAE Systems, with governments being its primary customer, the business is sensitive to changes in policy.

Even if defence spending remains uncut, national defence projects can nonetheless be postponed or delayed as part of austerity measures or shifting political priorities, causing growth to slump.

The bottom line

Despite their challenges and threats, all three of these businesses have demonstrated a knack for navigating through weak operating environments and emerging stronger than before. That’s why, even with their risks, I think investors who want to be more defensive in the current market climate may want to consider taking a closer look.

Yet these aren’t the only UK shares I’ve got on my radar right now.

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In fact, it is possible to start buying shares with a modest amount of money. Here is how someone who is new to the stock market could get going with £5 a day.

Starting on a small scale

Over the course of a year, that would give the person over £1,800 to invest.

Simply by putting aside a small amount of money each day, they could aim to build a substantial portfolio over the decades to come.

For example, imagine that a 30-year-old starts putting £5 a day into the stock market and achieves a compound annual growth rate of 5% (from share price movements and dividends). By the age of 65, their portfolio should be worth over £134,000.

Getting started in the stock market

Some people like the idea of investing, but keep putting it off.

But it is possible to begin buying shares quickly.

Of course, getting into the stock market without understanding it is not a smart move. Thankfully, it is possible to get to grips with some basic yet important concepts like valuation and portfolio diversification fairly fast.

Before investing, one needs a way to do so.

So it makes sense to compare option such as share-dealing accounts, Stocks and Shares ISAs, and trading apps.

From dreaming to investing

The next move is finding shares to buy (and buying them!)

That may sound easy, but there are some traps for the unwary. For example, some new investors presume that a good business must make for a good investment.

But I mentioned above that valuation is an important concept. Paying too much for a share can mean that even a brilliant business makes for a bitterly disappointing investment.

I think someone who plans to start investing could do worse than paying attention to the wisdom of billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

Buffett likes to stick to well-established, sizeable businesses he understands and that he thinks have an excellent commercial potential not fully reflected in their current share price.

Long-term potential

In that vein, one share I think investors should consider is consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser Group (LSE: RKT).

The Reckitt share price has moved up 21% so far this year. However, that still leaves it 14% below where it stood five years ago.

The company is still paying the costs of a disastrous acquisition in 2017. There is a risk that ongoing legal labilities will continue to eat into profits.

But the business operates in markets with high and ongoing demand. Its premium brands like Dettol and Vanish, combined with international distribution muscle, all help it to make money. I expect that will continue over the long term.

From a long-term perspective, I think Reckitt has bright prospects. And while I think all investors can benefit from taking a long-term view, the best moment to begin that is the first day one starts investing!

The post Here’s how someone can start investing with a spare £5 a day, this week appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

The global mood turned particularly cautious on Friday (17 October), as the UK market fell around 1.5% amid weakness in banks and oil stocks.

US-China tensions

Much of the pressure stemmed from escalating tensions in the ongoing US-China trade dispute. Beijing threatened tighter controls on rare earth exports, prompting President Trump to soften calls for 100% tariffs on Chinese goods.

The uncertainty rattled global investors and pushed many to cut exposure to cyclical stocks. UK growth stocks took a particular hit, with Babcock International slipping 8%, International Consolidated Airlines sliding 5.5% and Rolls-Royce falling 4.5%.

The UK economy

Despite the turbulence, the domestic picture looks somewhat brighter, with the UK economy returning to growth in August. Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund projected Britain to achieve the second-fastest growth among the Group of Seven nations in 2025, just behind the US.

That’s a reassuring signal after several years of stagnation fears.

Defensive sectors appear to be holding firm, including personal goods, pharmaceuticals, groceries and utilities. In contrast, more cyclical industries have suffered, with aerospace and defence dropping 3.5% last week.

The sharp fall in gold prices also hit precious metal miners, with Fresnillo dipping 11%. It appears that while the broader economy shows resilience, market sentiment is shifting towards companies that can weather global volatility more effectively.

How should investors react?

The growth stock narrative that’s fuelled UK markets for much of this year now looks to be losing steam. With international trade frictions and credit market concerns weighing on sentiment, cautious investors may want to focus on more defensive sectors such as consumer goods and utilities — rather than chasing aggressive growth stories.

One company that stands out to me for its defensive appeal is Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RKT). The firm owns household names such as Dettol, Durex and Nurofen, giving it a strong presence in health, hygiene and nutrition products.

The business faced turbulence in early 2024 when a lawsuit related to its Enfamil infant formula line caused a sharp fall in its share price. However, after nearly two years, Reckitt has fully recovered those losses and looks stronger for it.

The share price has climbed around 25% since this time last year, supported by a 4.99% dividend increase and a solid return on equity (ROE) of 17.4%.

That said, Reckitt’s balance sheet carries some baggage. The company’s debt stands at about £9.3bn, higher than its equity, which may worry investors if borrowing costs rise further. It also trades at a relatively rich price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 32.6, suggesting further price gains may be limited.

While its £24.6bn in assets provides reassurance, the valuation leaves little room for disappointment if earnings growth slows.

Prepping for a shift

Reckitt’s strong brands and reliable income stream make it an appealing option to consider when growth stocks are on the back foot. It still has high debt levels and a stretched valuation, but its ongoing recovery exhibits resilience even during tough periods.

As the FTSE 100 adjusts to shifting global dynamics, investors might be wise to weigh up a more balanced mix of growth and defensive stocks in their portfolios.

The post As the FTSE 100 hits a 2-week low, are UK growth stocks losing their shine? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Throughout 2025, both the S&P 500 and FTSE 100 have gone on to reach new record highs. That’s despite growing economic challenges and concerns alongside stubborn inflation. And consequently, some analysts have been warning of a potential correction or even crash.

When that might happen remains a mystery. But as always, it’s the intelligent investors who are preparing and exploring the best stocks to buy if a catastrophe does strike. And looking at the latest insights from institutional experts, three UK stocks have been highlighted as potential winners.

1. Resilient consumer goods

First up is Reckitt Benckiser (LSE:RKT), recommended by BoA Securities.

The firm’s vast and diversified portfolio of essential brands, including Dettol, Strepsils, Durex, and Finish, enjoy the benefit of continuous demand even during economic downturns.

As such, historically, the business has proven to be quite resilient during periods of volatility, maintaining stable revenue streams. And it’s one of the reasons why, despite increasingly sluggish consumer spending, management’s reaffirmed its full-year guidance of steady growth alongside growing dividends.

This strong defensive profile can be a massive advantage for shareholders during volatility. However, it’s important to recognise there are still risks to consider.

Even with its bullish stance, BoA’s highlighted ongoing legal risks surrounding the health risks of its Enfamil baby formula. And while this story’s still unfolding, an unfavourable verdict could adversely impact its reputation and, in turn, share price.

2. Strategic positioning in beverages

A top pick from the analyst team at Jefferies is Fevertree Drinks (LSE:FEVR) – a global leading supplier of premium mixers for alcoholic drinks.

The company’s encountered numerous operational challenges in recent years. And inflation has hardly helped matters, hampering demand alongside difficulties within its supply chain. Yet following its recent partnership with Molson Coors, experts are bullish that the broken supply chain links are getting steadily fixed, significantly de-risking its operations in the US.

At the same time, sales momentum seems to be picking up, particularly in Asia and Europe, with increasing evidence of stronger brand loyalty and an expanding cocktail culture.

There’s no denying that the group’s recovery remains fragile, resulting in notable execution risk. Simultaneously, stubborn inflation could continue to handicap profit margins in an increasingly competitive market.

However, there’s also no denying the firm’s operational progress, potentially positioning the business for a robust comeback if the stock market decides to throw a tantrum.

The bottom line

Both of these stocks seem like strong contenders, with Reckitt potentially suitable for investors looking to protect their portfolio before a downturn, and Fevertree for those seeking to capitalise on the eventual recovery.

The businesses are obviously not immune to disruption, and it’s critical to balance the risks with potential rewards. Yet, I believe they merit closer inspection from investors today.

The post 2 top UK stocks to consider buying if the market crashes in 2025, according to experts! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

That’s why I’ve been thinking about defensive stocks. Companies in sectors like utilities, consumer goods, and retail tend to have more predictable earnings because people need their products in good times and bad. They can provide stability when the stock market gets bumpy. While nothing is ‘crash-proof’, two FTSE-listed companies have caught my eye as potentially ‘crash-resistant’ picks worth checking out.

Spectris

Spectris (LSE: SXS) isn’t an obvious defensive stock at first glance. Its share price has seen plenty of volatility, and industrial companies often move with the wider economy. But Spectris makes advanced measurement tools used in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to electronics. These are high-precision instruments with strong competitive moats, and that gives the company healthy profit margins.

One factor I particularly like is the recurring nature of its revenue. Maintenance contracts, services, and consumables make up a significant chunk of sales, which means the firm continues earning even if new equipment orders slow. That consistency helps explain why Spectris shares have delivered a 144% gain over the past decade, equating to an annualised return of around 9.3%.

Of course, it’s not risk-free. Spectris has exposure to the automotive sector, which can be cyclical. A slowdown in vehicle demand or production could weigh on results, making it less defensive than it first appears.

That said, I think it’s a company investors might want to weigh up, given the combination of recurring income and long-term demand for its products.

Reckitt Benckiser

Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RKT) is a far more traditional defensive option. The consumer goods group owns some of the world’s most recognisable brands, including Dettol, Durex, Gaviscon, Air Wick, and Cillit Bang. These are products people continue to buy regardless of economic conditions, making its revenue stream steady even during downturns.

The company has delivered more than two decades of uninterrupted dividend payments, growing them at an average rate of 4.5% annually. The yield currently sits at 3.7%, and Reckitt often increases its payout during stronger economic periods. For income investors, that track record is worth thinking about.

That doesn’t mean the business is without challenges. Inflation has put pressure on consumers, with many trading down to cheaper alternatives. This has weighed on Reckitt’s share price and forced management to consider ways of cutting costs to stay competitive. If it fails to do so, its margins could be under more pressure.

Even so, its portfolio of household brands makes it a stock I think investors should consider checking out.

Playing it safe

With stock markets reaching record highs, I think it’s sensible for investors to think about adding defensive names to their portfolios.

Spectris and Reckitt Benckiser both bring different strengths: one with recurring industrial revenues and the other with consumer brands and steady dividends.

Neither is immune to risks but both look like solid candidates to weigh up if markets turn choppy in 2025.

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