Trade War Turns Out to Be a Boon for Some Companies

Majority of S&P 500 companies weathering the storm amid uncertainty over China tariffs

Farmer Terry Davidson walks through his soy fields in Harvard, Illinois, on July 6, 2018. On the same day China imposed retaliatory tariffs aimed at the US soybean market. NOVA SAFO/AFP/Getty Images

One of the world’s largest agricultural trading companies, Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM), doubled its net profit in the second quarter and beat analysts’ expectations, partly because of the U.S.–China trade war.

ADM is among many S&P 500 companies that have weathered growing trade tensions to report strong results in the second quarter of 2018.