Shares of smaller, domestic-focused companies have already been gaining, and financial stocks are also predicted to rise. But technology, health-care and consumer-staples firms with a large share of profits coming from outside the U.S. may not benefit as much.
—Akane Otani
BANKS
Banks stand to be big winners from the planned tax-code overhaul.
Big financial firms pay among the highest effective tax rates of any major industry, making a possible drop to a 20% corporate rate highly profitable. S&P Global Market Intelligence estimated the five largest diversified U.S. banks might have had a combined tax savings of $11.5 billion in 2016 if the new rate had been enacted.
Executives say the changes will also spur customers to invest and boost the broader economy. “People will have the optimism which is built around it fulfilled,” said Bank of America Corp. BAC -0.25% Chief Executive Brian Moynihan. “If they’re more optimistic, they’ll borrow more.”
There are potential drawbacks, however. Several big banks, including Bank of America andCitigroup Inc., C 0.01% will have to write-down the value of tax I.O.U.s generated by financial-crisis losses. The biggest banks may also lose the ability to deduct payments they make to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for tax purposes.
—Telis Demos
ASSET MANAGERS
For asset managers, the tax proposals offer something money managers of all stripes can rally around: The promise of higher stock prices.
A rising market would lift the value of the assets investment firms manage, and juice the performance of their funds. “That’s what is creating a reasonable amount of excitement,” said Loren Starr, finance chief at Invesco Ltd.
Some managers with a big presence overseas, such as Franklin Resources Inc., BEN 0.30%would further benefit from provisions making it easier for U.S. companies to bring home foreign profits.
But the industry could be indirectly hurt by provisions for individual investors. A proposed “first in, first out” rule would prevent investors from minimizing their taxes by choosing specific shares they sell from an investment position. Another limits how much individuals can put in their retirement-savings plan on a pretax basis. “If people are not allowed to invest in retirement as much, that would be negative for whole retirement space,” said Mr. Starr.
—Justin Baer
PRIVATE-EQUITY FIRMS
Private-equity firms say tax changes being proposed by Republicans in both the House and Senate could dent their lucrative business model.
The industry’s angst is primarily focused on a plan to limit businesses’ ability to deduct interest payments from their taxes. Private-equity firms say the change could curb their ability to use debt to fund acquisitions, and hurt returns.
Another proposal would make it more difficult for private-equity managers to pay a reduced tax rate on a substantial portion of their income that’s known as carried interest. Both versions of the bill extend the period over which firms must hold an asset before it is eligible for the lower long-term capital-gains rate to three years from one.
But one aspect of the proposed tax changes could greatly benefit companies owned by private-equity firms: the lower corporate tax rate.
—Miriam Gottfried
RETAILERS
Retailers and industry associations started lobbying politicians last year to remove a border-adjusted tax clause that would have imposed taxes on imported goods. Since most retailers sell large amounts of imported products, the clause would have eaten away at their profits—costs retailers said would have to be passed on to consumers.
Since Republican lawmakers dropped the border-adjusted tax from draft legislation this summer, many retailers have pushed hard for a new tax bill, with a lower tax rate, to be passed. The National Retail Federation says retailers have one of the highest average corporate tax rates. “We like the lowest possible rate, but also want to see the rate effective January 2018 rather than phased in gradually,” said David French, the group’s senior vice president of government relations.
The NRF’s spending on lobbyists soared this year to $10.5 million through October, compared with $7.1 million for all of last year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The other large retailer organization, Retail Industry Leaders Association, spent $2.3 million so far this year, about the same as last year.
—Sarah Nassauer
TELECOMS
A corporate tax cut would be welcome news for telecommunications carriers, which are some of the nation’s biggest spenders on infrastructure and make most of their money through U.S. sales. It would save them billions annually. A provision that allows companies to immediately write down the full value of their capital investments through 2023 would also lead to big savings in the near term.
Companies that have a lot of debt may feel some pain from a cap on net interest deduction, but that would mostly be offset by a lower tax rate, analysts say.
AT&T has thrown its weight behind the legislation, saying it would increase its capital spending by $1 billion in 2018 if the legislation passes. “If you bring that down to 20%, we would expect businesses of all types and characteristics to come and invest,” AT&T CFO John Stephens said at a recent investor conference. “That tax reform could generate significant opportunities for us.”
—Ryan Knutson
ENERGY
Oil giants such as Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. stand to see significant gains from the GOP tax legislation, mostly from broad changes that would benefit other large companies.
Proposals such as reducing the overall corporate tax rate and lowering taxes on overseas profits will “help unleash economic growth and allow our industry to continue providing safe, reliable energy for Americans,” Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said earlier in November.
The Senate bill also includes a measure that would potentially open part of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, including the leasing of 800,000 acres for exploration.
—Bradley Olson
RENEWABLES
The renewable energy industry is wary of proposals in the House tax bill that would reduce or sunset federal tax credits for wind and solar projects.
The Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group, says it is pushing to protect the existing solar investment tax credit, which is scheduled to be gradually reduced to 22% in 2021 under current law. After that, the credit for residential projects is set to expire, but commercial and utility projects would receive a 10% credit. The House measure would do away with that 10% credit at the end of 2027.
The bill would retroactively change how businesses can qualify for wind energy tax credits. The American Wind Energy Association says altering the terms of a previous agreement to phase out credits by 2019 would be harmful.
“It would kill over half the wind projects in America, cause factory layoffs and break construction contracts already signed, and deprive farming communities of a cash crop they’re counting on,” said Jim Reilly, senior vice president of federal legislative affairs at AWEA.
—Erin Ailworth
HOSPITALS
The American Hospital Association opposes the Senate tax bill provision to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that everyone get health insurance. A repeal of this mandate is expected to increase the number of uninsured, which will drive up unpaid hospital bills, said Tom Nickels, executive vice president of the AHA.
The AHA, which launched a digital advertising campaign in D.C. media to promote its views, also opposes the Senate proposal to do away with a tax exemption for so-called advanced refunding bonds, a money-saving option for tax-exempt borrowers under certain interest rate conditions. Nearly 80% of U.S. hospitals have access to tax-exempt bond markets because they are government-owned or private nonprofits.
The AHA, however, welcomed the Senate’s move to omit a provision included in the House plan that would eliminate the tax-free benefits of private activity bonds.
—Melanie Evans
PHARMACEUTICALS
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are expected to support any eventual bill that lowers the corporate tax rate, which they argued has put them at a competitive disadvantage to overseas rivals.
Provisions in both the House and Senate bills imposing a relatively low, one-time tax on cash made overseas, meanwhile, could pave the way for U.S.-based multinationals to bring back billions of dollars they have kept outside the country to avoid the higher corporate tax rate. Moody’s Investors Service estimates that drug and other health-care companies held $273 billion overseas last year. Analysts speculate the companies would use repatriated money to fund acquisitions, as well as pay for share buybacks and dividends.
One fly in the ointment: The plans imperil the orphan drug tax credit that provides an incentive for drug companies to conduct R&D in rare diseases. It currently allows companies to claim a 50% tax credit for the cost of such R&D, according to Goldman Sachs.
—Jonathan D. Rockoff and Peter Loftus
AUTOS
Auto makers plowing billions of dollars into developing electric cars are nervous about losing an income-tax credit of up to $7,500 for consumers buying the advanced vehicles after the House tax bill eliminated it. (The Senate bill preserves the credit.)
Car companies view the tax credit as key to luring consumers to electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles that are thousands of dollars more expensive than gasoline-powered counterparts.
They and their Washington lobbyists have been vocal that eliminating the tax credit could curb electric-car sales and make it difficult for them to meet looming environmental regulations, which call for significant curbs on emissions and increases in fuel economy.
—Mike Spector
MANUFACTURERS
Manufacturers have long complained about the difficulty of finding skilled workers with degrees in science, technology, engineering and math. Kip Eideberg, vice president for public affairs and advocacy at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, said the proposed elimination of tax credits for graduate students could have a “chilling effect on the future manufacturing workforce.”
“Making it harder or less affordable for people to pursue those degrees is not a good thing at all,” he said.
In addition, small- and medium-size manufacturers may not get as much tax relief as larger corporations, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. “Permanent, real and strong relief for small businesses is going to be an imperative in the final bill,” said Jay Timmons, the association’s chief executive.
Caterpillar Inc. is among U.S. multinationals hoping for lower taxes on foreign profits and repatriated cash. Amy Campbell, director of investor relations, has suggested such changes would free up funding for the company’s U.S. operations “About 90% of our cash right now is overseas,” she said at a Nov. 15 conference.
—Andrew Tangel
AIRPORTS AND AIRLINES
A provision in the House bill would end the practice of local governments selling tax-exempt “private activity bonds” that airports use to finance new or rebuilt terminals, parking garages and other infrastructure.
Airports estimate they have $100 billion in infrastructure needs in the next five years. Without the tax break, they say they would have to sell costlier taxable bonds. Two trade groups are lobbying to retain the bonds, which also are used to fund ports, hospitals and universities.
Airlines are equally unhappy about the potential repeal of those bonds, as well as provisions in the tax bills that would limit corporate interest deductions. But the promised corporate tax rate cut would more than make up the effect of smaller changes airlines dislike, according to their leading trade group.
—Susan Carey
DEFENSE
If the tax cut doesn’t generate increased revenue through higher economic growth, as Republicans envision, a rising federal budget deficit could lead to military spending cuts in the early 2020s that would hurt defense contractors.
While the Pentagon investment budget is now growing at 3%-4% a year, the administration hasn’t flagged medium-term growth trends. “As it did in the 1980s, that could signal a peak in DoD spending prospects, even in a world that is dangerous,” said Byron Callan, at Capital Alpha Partners LLC.
Defense executives say they may prepay some pension obligations to secure tax benefits of writing off that cost at the current 35% rate.
—Doug Cameron
RESTAURANTS
Most restaurant companies have been battling increased labor costs and flat or falling customer traffic, making a lower tax rate more welcome than ever.
“We believe that a simplified tax code for businesses and individuals will lead to more economic growth for the country,” said Dunkin Brands Group Inc. DNKN -1.24% Chief Executive Nigel Travis.
Stephens Inc., a financial-services firm, said companies that own most of their restaurants rather than franchise them would especially benefit from the proposed legislation because they could write off the cost of building new outlets.
—Julie Jargon
GROCERS
Independent supermarket owners are pushing for Congress to adopt the same lower corporate tax rate for pass-through businesses that will be given to big corporations under current proposal.
The National Grocers Association, the trade association representing independent supermarkets, wrote to Senators on Tuesday urging them to “create a more level playing field for Main Street supermarkets.” As it stands, the tax bill could accelerate consolidation already under way in the grocery industry, they said.
—Heather Haddon
AGRICULTURE
Many farm groups are pleased the proposed legislation includes tax deductions for large capital purchases and other provisions that help farmers reduce large swings in their tax burdens resulting from variations in markets and weather.
But the National Farmers Union, which advocates for small farmers, is worried about plans in the Senate version of the bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s health-insurance mandate. Roger Johnson, the group’s president, said farming is among the most dangerous occupations in the country and that many farmers rely heavily on access to medical care and would be hurt by higher premium costs expected to result from the bill.
Agricultural cooperatives want to protect deductions related to co-op costs, which farmers use to reduce their own tax obligations. Discarding that deduction—which both the versions of the legislation would do—would hurt farmers amid a multiyear slump in crop prices, said Chuck Conner, chief executive of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. “The timing of this couldn’t be worse,” he said.
—Jesse Newman and Jacob Bunge
CRUISE OPERATORS
Major cruise operators are looking at the possibility of paying more to the U.S. Treasury if the Senate version of new tax legislation becomes law.
Under current rules, Carnival Corp. CCL 0.55% , Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL 1.09%and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. NCLH 1.20% , have minimal U.S. taxable income on most of their operations. The companies are all based in Miami but incorporated in other counties. But the Senate proposal would create a new category of taxable income for foreign corporations with cruises originating from the U.S.
“The industry pays hundreds of millions of dollars in fees and taxes to U.S. ports and jurisdictions in which they operate—even though a very small percentage of cruise line operations occur in U.S. waters,” said Carnival spokesman Roger Frizzell.
Even if the Senate measure is adopted, cruise operators would only be subject to corporate tax for an average 12% of their total cruise days, which translates to an effective tax rate of 2%, or a combined $70 million a year, according to estimates by UBS.
—Costas Paris
JAPAN
Concerns that a lower U.S. corporate tax may undermine the competitiveness of Japanese companies and cause them to relocate to the U.S. have spurred some to suggest that Japan might follow America’s lead.
“Japan should also do tax reform to be on an equal footing,” Mitsui Fudosan Co. chairman Hiromichi Iwasa said in early November. His company, one of Japan’s biggest real-estate firms, has been actively investing in the U.S. real-estate market. A spokesman said the company wasn’t reconsidering its stance.
Toyota Motor Corp. expects a positive impact from a lower corporate tax rate but is also girding for a possible negative impact from any tax that may be levied on transactions between Toyota’s headquarters in Japan and its American affiliate, a spokeswoman said.
“As a global company, we expect open trade and fair systems,” she said. “We will carefully watch the process and try to deepen our understanding.”
—Megumi Fujikawa
TimelessInvestor
What a Tax Overhaul Means for different Industries – WSJ
A great article on What a Tax Overhaul Means for different Industry -WSJ
Summary
Proposals such as reducing the overall corporate tax rate and lowering taxes on overseas profits will “help unleash economic growth and allow our industry to continue providing safe, reliable energy for Americans,” Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said earlier in November.
What a Tax Overhaul Means for Your Industry
Congress’s attempt to make the most significant tax-code changes since 1986 has split the business community. Here’s a look at how 19 different industries have responded
By
U.S. STOCKS
The tax overhaul making its way through Congress could help many stocks, providing another potential lift to an 8-year-old bull market.
A reduction in the corporate tax rate is expected to boost earnings growth, which many analysts consider to be the biggest driver of long-term stock gains. Goldman Sachs forecast that if Congress manages to cut the federal corporate tax rate to 25% from the current 35%, per-share earnings growth in the S&P 500 next year could rise to 15%—more than double the bank’s current estimate of 7% growth.
Shares of smaller, domestic-focused companies have already been gaining, and financial stocks are also predicted to rise. But technology, health-care and consumer-staples firms with a large share of profits coming from outside the U.S. may not benefit as much.
—Akane Otani
BANKS
Banks stand to be big winners from the planned tax-code overhaul.
Big financial firms pay among the highest effective tax rates of any major industry, making a possible drop to a 20% corporate rate highly profitable. S&P Global Market Intelligence estimated the five largest diversified U.S. banks might have had a combined tax savings of $11.5 billion in 2016 if the new rate had been enacted.
Executives say the changes will also spur customers to invest and boost the broader economy. “People will have the optimism which is built around it fulfilled,” said Bank of America Corp. BAC -0.25% Chief Executive Brian Moynihan. “If they’re more optimistic, they’ll borrow more.”
There are potential drawbacks, however. Several big banks, including Bank of America andCitigroup Inc., C 0.01% will have to write-down the value of tax I.O.U.s generated by financial-crisis losses. The biggest banks may also lose the ability to deduct payments they make to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for tax purposes.
—Telis Demos
ASSET MANAGERS
For asset managers, the tax proposals offer something money managers of all stripes can rally around: The promise of higher stock prices.
A rising market would lift the value of the assets investment firms manage, and juice the performance of their funds. “That’s what is creating a reasonable amount of excitement,” said Loren Starr, finance chief at Invesco Ltd.
Some managers with a big presence overseas, such as Franklin Resources Inc., BEN 0.30%would further benefit from provisions making it easier for U.S. companies to bring home foreign profits.
But the industry could be indirectly hurt by provisions for individual investors. A proposed “first in, first out” rule would prevent investors from minimizing their taxes by choosing specific shares they sell from an investment position. Another limits how much individuals can put in their retirement-savings plan on a pretax basis. “If people are not allowed to invest in retirement as much, that would be negative for whole retirement space,” said Mr. Starr.
—Justin Baer
PRIVATE-EQUITY FIRMS
Private-equity firms say tax changes being proposed by Republicans in both the House and Senate could dent their lucrative business model.
The industry’s angst is primarily focused on a plan to limit businesses’ ability to deduct interest payments from their taxes. Private-equity firms say the change could curb their ability to use debt to fund acquisitions, and hurt returns.
Another proposal would make it more difficult for private-equity managers to pay a reduced tax rate on a substantial portion of their income that’s known as carried interest. Both versions of the bill extend the period over which firms must hold an asset before it is eligible for the lower long-term capital-gains rate to three years from one.
But one aspect of the proposed tax changes could greatly benefit companies owned by private-equity firms: the lower corporate tax rate.
—Miriam Gottfried
RETAILERS
Retailers and industry associations started lobbying politicians last year to remove a border-adjusted tax clause that would have imposed taxes on imported goods. Since most retailers sell large amounts of imported products, the clause would have eaten away at their profits—costs retailers said would have to be passed on to consumers.
Since Republican lawmakers dropped the border-adjusted tax from draft legislation this summer, many retailers have pushed hard for a new tax bill, with a lower tax rate, to be passed. The National Retail Federation says retailers have one of the highest average corporate tax rates. “We like the lowest possible rate, but also want to see the rate effective January 2018 rather than phased in gradually,” said David French, the group’s senior vice president of government relations.
The NRF’s spending on lobbyists soared this year to $10.5 million through October, compared with $7.1 million for all of last year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The other large retailer organization, Retail Industry Leaders Association, spent $2.3 million so far this year, about the same as last year.
—Sarah Nassauer
TELECOMS
A corporate tax cut would be welcome news for telecommunications carriers, which are some of the nation’s biggest spenders on infrastructure and make most of their money through U.S. sales. It would save them billions annually. A provision that allows companies to immediately write down the full value of their capital investments through 2023 would also lead to big savings in the near term.
Companies that have a lot of debt may feel some pain from a cap on net interest deduction, but that would mostly be offset by a lower tax rate, analysts say.
AT&T has thrown its weight behind the legislation, saying it would increase its capital spending by $1 billion in 2018 if the legislation passes. “If you bring that down to 20%, we would expect businesses of all types and characteristics to come and invest,” AT&T CFO John Stephens said at a recent investor conference. “That tax reform could generate significant opportunities for us.”
—Ryan Knutson
ENERGY
Oil giants such as Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. stand to see significant gains from the GOP tax legislation, mostly from broad changes that would benefit other large companies.
Proposals such as reducing the overall corporate tax rate and lowering taxes on overseas profits will “help unleash economic growth and allow our industry to continue providing safe, reliable energy for Americans,” Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said earlier in November.
The Senate bill also includes a measure that would potentially open part of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, including the leasing of 800,000 acres for exploration.
—Bradley Olson
RENEWABLES
The renewable energy industry is wary of proposals in the House tax bill that would reduce or sunset federal tax credits for wind and solar projects.
The Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group, says it is pushing to protect the existing solar investment tax credit, which is scheduled to be gradually reduced to 22% in 2021 under current law. After that, the credit for residential projects is set to expire, but commercial and utility projects would receive a 10% credit. The House measure would do away with that 10% credit at the end of 2027.
The bill would retroactively change how businesses can qualify for wind energy tax credits. The American Wind Energy Association says altering the terms of a previous agreement to phase out credits by 2019 would be harmful.
“It would kill over half the wind projects in America, cause factory layoffs and break construction contracts already signed, and deprive farming communities of a cash crop they’re counting on,” said Jim Reilly, senior vice president of federal legislative affairs at AWEA.
—Erin Ailworth
HOSPITALS
The American Hospital Association opposes the Senate tax bill provision to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that everyone get health insurance. A repeal of this mandate is expected to increase the number of uninsured, which will drive up unpaid hospital bills, said Tom Nickels, executive vice president of the AHA.
The AHA, which launched a digital advertising campaign in D.C. media to promote its views, also opposes the Senate proposal to do away with a tax exemption for so-called advanced refunding bonds, a money-saving option for tax-exempt borrowers under certain interest rate conditions. Nearly 80% of U.S. hospitals have access to tax-exempt bond markets because they are government-owned or private nonprofits.
The AHA, however, welcomed the Senate’s move to omit a provision included in the House plan that would eliminate the tax-free benefits of private activity bonds.
—Melanie Evans
PHARMACEUTICALS
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are expected to support any eventual bill that lowers the corporate tax rate, which they argued has put them at a competitive disadvantage to overseas rivals.
Provisions in both the House and Senate bills imposing a relatively low, one-time tax on cash made overseas, meanwhile, could pave the way for U.S.-based multinationals to bring back billions of dollars they have kept outside the country to avoid the higher corporate tax rate. Moody’s Investors Service estimates that drug and other health-care companies held $273 billion overseas last year. Analysts speculate the companies would use repatriated money to fund acquisitions, as well as pay for share buybacks and dividends.
One fly in the ointment: The plans imperil the orphan drug tax credit that provides an incentive for drug companies to conduct R&D in rare diseases. It currently allows companies to claim a 50% tax credit for the cost of such R&D, according to Goldman Sachs.
—Jonathan D. Rockoff and Peter Loftus
AUTOS
Auto makers plowing billions of dollars into developing electric cars are nervous about losing an income-tax credit of up to $7,500 for consumers buying the advanced vehicles after the House tax bill eliminated it. (The Senate bill preserves the credit.)
Car companies view the tax credit as key to luring consumers to electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles that are thousands of dollars more expensive than gasoline-powered counterparts.
They and their Washington lobbyists have been vocal that eliminating the tax credit could curb electric-car sales and make it difficult for them to meet looming environmental regulations, which call for significant curbs on emissions and increases in fuel economy.
—Mike Spector
MANUFACTURERS
Manufacturers have long complained about the difficulty of finding skilled workers with degrees in science, technology, engineering and math. Kip Eideberg, vice president for public affairs and advocacy at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, said the proposed elimination of tax credits for graduate students could have a “chilling effect on the future manufacturing workforce.”
“Making it harder or less affordable for people to pursue those degrees is not a good thing at all,” he said.
In addition, small- and medium-size manufacturers may not get as much tax relief as larger corporations, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. “Permanent, real and strong relief for small businesses is going to be an imperative in the final bill,” said Jay Timmons, the association’s chief executive.
Caterpillar Inc. is among U.S. multinationals hoping for lower taxes on foreign profits and repatriated cash. Amy Campbell, director of investor relations, has suggested such changes would free up funding for the company’s U.S. operations “About 90% of our cash right now is overseas,” she said at a Nov. 15 conference.
—Andrew Tangel
AIRPORTS AND AIRLINES
A provision in the House bill would end the practice of local governments selling tax-exempt “private activity bonds” that airports use to finance new or rebuilt terminals, parking garages and other infrastructure.
Airports estimate they have $100 billion in infrastructure needs in the next five years. Without the tax break, they say they would have to sell costlier taxable bonds. Two trade groups are lobbying to retain the bonds, which also are used to fund ports, hospitals and universities.
Airlines are equally unhappy about the potential repeal of those bonds, as well as provisions in the tax bills that would limit corporate interest deductions. But the promised corporate tax rate cut would more than make up the effect of smaller changes airlines dislike, according to their leading trade group.
—Susan Carey
DEFENSE
If the tax cut doesn’t generate increased revenue through higher economic growth, as Republicans envision, a rising federal budget deficit could lead to military spending cuts in the early 2020s that would hurt defense contractors.
While the Pentagon investment budget is now growing at 3%-4% a year, the administration hasn’t flagged medium-term growth trends. “As it did in the 1980s, that could signal a peak in DoD spending prospects, even in a world that is dangerous,” said Byron Callan, at Capital Alpha Partners LLC.
Defense executives say they may prepay some pension obligations to secure tax benefits of writing off that cost at the current 35% rate.
—Doug Cameron
RESTAURANTS
Most restaurant companies have been battling increased labor costs and flat or falling customer traffic, making a lower tax rate more welcome than ever.
“We believe that a simplified tax code for businesses and individuals will lead to more economic growth for the country,” said Dunkin Brands Group Inc. DNKN -1.24% Chief Executive Nigel Travis.
Stephens Inc., a financial-services firm, said companies that own most of their restaurants rather than franchise them would especially benefit from the proposed legislation because they could write off the cost of building new outlets.
—Julie Jargon
GROCERS
Independent supermarket owners are pushing for Congress to adopt the same lower corporate tax rate for pass-through businesses that will be given to big corporations under current proposal.
The National Grocers Association, the trade association representing independent supermarkets, wrote to Senators on Tuesday urging them to “create a more level playing field for Main Street supermarkets.” As it stands, the tax bill could accelerate consolidation already under way in the grocery industry, they said.
—Heather Haddon
AGRICULTURE
Many farm groups are pleased the proposed legislation includes tax deductions for large capital purchases and other provisions that help farmers reduce large swings in their tax burdens resulting from variations in markets and weather.
But the National Farmers Union, which advocates for small farmers, is worried about plans in the Senate version of the bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s health-insurance mandate. Roger Johnson, the group’s president, said farming is among the most dangerous occupations in the country and that many farmers rely heavily on access to medical care and would be hurt by higher premium costs expected to result from the bill.
Agricultural cooperatives want to protect deductions related to co-op costs, which farmers use to reduce their own tax obligations. Discarding that deduction—which both the versions of the legislation would do—would hurt farmers amid a multiyear slump in crop prices, said Chuck Conner, chief executive of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. “The timing of this couldn’t be worse,” he said.
—Jesse Newman and Jacob Bunge
CRUISE OPERATORS
Major cruise operators are looking at the possibility of paying more to the U.S. Treasury if the Senate version of new tax legislation becomes law.
Under current rules, Carnival Corp. CCL 0.55% , Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL 1.09%and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. NCLH 1.20% , have minimal U.S. taxable income on most of their operations. The companies are all based in Miami but incorporated in other counties. But the Senate proposal would create a new category of taxable income for foreign corporations with cruises originating from the U.S.
“The industry pays hundreds of millions of dollars in fees and taxes to U.S. ports and jurisdictions in which they operate—even though a very small percentage of cruise line operations occur in U.S. waters,” said Carnival spokesman Roger Frizzell.
Even if the Senate measure is adopted, cruise operators would only be subject to corporate tax for an average 12% of their total cruise days, which translates to an effective tax rate of 2%, or a combined $70 million a year, according to estimates by UBS.
—Costas Paris
JAPAN
Concerns that a lower U.S. corporate tax may undermine the competitiveness of Japanese companies and cause them to relocate to the U.S. have spurred some to suggest that Japan might follow America’s lead.
“Japan should also do tax reform to be on an equal footing,” Mitsui Fudosan Co. chairman Hiromichi Iwasa said in early November. His company, one of Japan’s biggest real-estate firms, has been actively investing in the U.S. real-estate market. A spokesman said the company wasn’t reconsidering its stance.
Toyota Motor Corp. expects a positive impact from a lower corporate tax rate but is also girding for a possible negative impact from any tax that may be levied on transactions between Toyota’s headquarters in Japan and its American affiliate, a spokeswoman said.
“As a global company, we expect open trade and fair systems,” she said. “We will carefully watch the process and try to deepen our understanding.”
—Megumi Fujikawa
About Timeless Investor
My name is Samual Lau. I am a long-term value investor and a zealous disciple of Ben Graham. And I am a MBA graduated in May 2010 from Carnegie Mellon University. My concentrations are Finance, Strategy and Marketing.