CEOs are finally exhaling

Signal Summary: CEOs are finally feeling optimistic about trade deals while simultaneously admitting they're completely unprepared for AI disruption. Meanwhile, AMN Healthcare is beating Wall Street expectations by losing less money than expected.

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HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK ↓

SIGNAL 1
CEOs are finally exhaling

Breaking: U.S. CEO confidence jumped in May as trade negotiation hopes magically erased tariff anxiety. Because nothing says "sound business strategy" like betting your company's future on politicians making deals.

By the numbers:

• Current conditions: 5.0/10 (up 9% from April)

• 12-month outlook: 5.4/10 (up 8%)

• 53% expect revenue growth

• 37% plan headcount increases

Reality check: CEOs are betting on resolved trade disputes by 2025 despite zero evidence this will happen. Meanwhile, 46% still expect a recession.

Translation: confidence is up, but we're still operating in wishful thinking territory.

📶 Signal → Strategy: Prepare for hiring surges from optimistic CEOs while hedging against recession fears.

Go deeper: CEO Confidence Survey

SIGNAL 2
Companies admit AI cluelessness

The headline: Only 10% of C-suite leaders say their companies are ready for AI disruption.

The uncomfortable truth:

• 61% see AI as a "game-changer"

• 66% prefer buying AI talent vs. building internally

• 41% expect smaller workforces (translation: layoffs coming)

• 34% lack workplace AI policies entirely (because winging it always works)

The coming storm: Skills gap crisis brewing as most leaders admit their teams can't spell "artificial intelligence," let alone implement it.

📶 Signal → Strategy: Position as the AI-ready talent partner - 90% of companies need help yesterday.

Go deeper: Adecco AI Survey

SIGNAL 3
AMN Healthcare wins by losing less spectacularly

When beating expectations means your revenue only fell 16% instead of 20%.

The twist: AMN's Q1 results "exceeded forecasts" despite revenue dropping faster than a new recruiter's confidence on their first cold call. Wall Street apparently loves it when you lose money more efficiently than expected.

What's working:

• Revenue: $690M (beat estimates of $671M because expectations were basement-level)

• Cash flow: $93M (enough to reduce debt by $60M)

• Technology rollouts are improving recruiter productivity

The reality: Every segment declined, but hey, at least they're declining with style. CEO Cary Grace calls it "continued normalization," which is corporate speak for "this is our life now."

Signal → Strategy: Focus on healthcare staffing firms embracing technology solutions. They're investing in productivity tools to improve output.

Go deeper: AMN Earnings Report

SHARE THE SIGNALS
3 people you should share these signals with:

1. Anyone making headcount decisions based on CEO optimism

2. Your most AI-anxious executive

3. Whoever thinks revenue decline means automatic failure