McDonald's is slashing its combo meal prices — despite weeks of tussling with restaurant operators who pleaded that rising costs have made it difficult to sustain deals already on the menu. Its US franchisees have agreed to keep the cost of eight popular combos 15% below the sum of the individual items' prices, according to internal materials viewed by the Wall Street Journal. A combo meal currently selling for $10, for example, could go for as little as $8.50 under the new discounts. That agreement followe ...

Company Leadership Transition - Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down next year after over a decade, as the company undertakes a turnaround effort to reignite growth and reverse declining sales [1] - Michael Fiddelke, the current COO, has been elected to succeed Cornell and will join the Board of Directors on February 1 [1][13] Executive Background - Cornell, 66, is concluding a three-year commitment made in 2022, during which Target's board removed the mandatory retirement age of 65 to allow him to lead during a critical period [2] - Fiddelke, 49, has been with Target for 20 years and has held various leadership roles across merchandising, finance, operations, and human resources [2] Business Performance - In the latest fiscal quarter, Target reported $25.2 billion in sales, a decrease of just under 1% year-over-year [5][16] - Sales at stores open at least a year fell nearly 2%, with in-store sales dropping more than 3%, while online sales grew a little over 4% [10] Profit and Sales Forecast - The company's profit for the quarter was $1.3 billion, down about 19% from the previous year [10] - Target expects a low-single digit decline in sales for fiscal 2025, revised down from a previous forecast of net sales growth of about 1% [15] Strategic Initiatives - To achieve long-term profitable growth, Target announced a new multi-year growth initiative called the Enterprise Acceleration Office, aimed at enhancing speed, adaptability, innovation, and resilience [14]

Google, Kairos Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority have agreed to supply 50 megawatts of nuclear power to data centers in Tennessee and Alabama. The companies say the deal will help meet rising U.S. energy demand and advance the nation's role in next-generation nuclear power. Under the agreement, Kairos's Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge will feed up to 50 megawatts into the TVA grid that serves Google's facilities. The deal makes TVA the first utility to purchase power from a GEN IV reactor. It also marks ...

Core Viewpoint - Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are facing proposed class action lawsuits from passengers who claim they were misled into paying extra for "window" seats that do not actually have windows due to design issues in certain aircraft models [1][4]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuits were filed in federal courts in San Francisco and Brooklyn, seeking millions of dollars in damages for over 1 million passengers at each airline [1]. - Passengers allege that Delta and United do not indicate the absence of windows for certain seats during the booking process, unlike competitors such as Alaska Airlines and American Airlines [3][4]. - The complaints highlight that passengers choose window seats for various reasons, including alleviating fear of flying, keeping children occupied, and enjoying the view [3]. Group 2: Aircraft Specifications - The lawsuits specify that certain Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321 aircraft have seats that are designed to have windows but lack them due to the placement of air conditioning ducts, electrical conduits, or other components [2][6]. Group 3: Revenue Implications - Ancillary revenue from services such as seat selection, baggage fees, and cabin upgrades is crucial for airlines to generate additional cash while maintaining lower base fares [5][8]. Group 4: Legal Representation - The Delta lawsuit is led by Nicholas Meyer, while the United lawsuit is represented by Marc Brenman and Aviva Copaken [8]. - One plaintiff reported receiving refunds for some windowless seats but not for others, indicating potential inconsistencies in the airlines' handling of these complaints [8]. Group 5: Third-Party Information - Passengers can utilize third-party websites like SeatGuru to assess the pros and cons of specific seats, including those without windows [9]. - Legal representatives argue that reliance on third-party reviews does not absolve Delta and United from misrepresenting their products [9].

Core Viewpoint - Home Depot is considering raising prices on select merchandise to offset the costs associated with tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, marking a shift from its previous stance against trade-related price adjustments [1][12]. Pricing Strategy - The company indicated that price changes would be limited to specific product categories and characterized as measured rather than sweeping [1][3]. - CFO Richard McPhail confirmed that certain items would see price modifications in response to import duties [2][17]. Consumer Behavior - Home Depot reported mixed consumer behavior, with comparable store sales increasing by 1% while customer visits declined by 0.9% [4][11]. - The decline in customer visits is attributed to economic headwinds and elevated interest rates, leading homeowners to delay significant remodeling projects [3][9]. Market Dynamics - The residential real estate market's challenges have negatively impacted Home Depot's performance, as elevated property values and economic uncertainty have reduced demand for renovations [7][10]. - Despite home equity values doubling since 2019, homeowners are reluctant to take on debt for major improvement projects, even with favorable collateral values [10]. Strategic Focus - To counteract the decline in do-it-yourself demand, Home Depot is intensifying efforts to capture the professional contractor market, including expanded bulk purchasing options and enhanced support services [13][14]. - The company recently agreed to acquire building materials supplier GMS for $4.3 billion, reinforcing its commitment to serving professional builders [13][14]. Supply Chain Considerations - Approximately half of Home Depot's merchandise is sourced from domestic suppliers, which protects those products from international trade duties [4][16]. - The company aims to maintain a price leadership position in home improvement while managing the overall cost of projects for customers [17].

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia is developing a new AI chip for China, named B30A, which is more powerful than the H20 model currently allowed for sale in the region, but less advanced than the blocked Blackwell B300 design [1][2]. Group 1: Chip Development and Specifications - The B30A chip is expected to deliver about half of the raw computing power of the B300, aligning with President Trump's indication of allowing a chip that is "30 to 50% off" in terms of power [2]. - Nvidia aims to send samples of the new B30A chip to Chinese clients for testing as early as next month [4][10]. Group 2: Regulatory and Market Context - Nvidia's spokesperson stated that the company evaluates various products for its roadmap to compete within government regulations, ensuring all offerings have the necessary approvals [5]. - There are ongoing national security concerns regarding the sale of AI chips to China, which may affect Nvidia's ability to receive regulatory approval for the new chip [8]. Group 3: Financial and Market Share Considerations - Nvidia's revenue from China accounted for approximately 13% of its total revenue in the past financial year, highlighting the importance of the Chinese market for the company [11]. - An unprecedented deal was announced where Nvidia and AMD would give the US government 15% of their revenue from sales in China in exchange for permission to resume sales of the H20 model [6].

Acquisition Overview - Nexstar Media Group is acquiring Tegna for $6.2 billion in cash, creating a significant local TV broadcasting entity as the industry anticipates regulatory changes to facilitate consolidation [1][12] - The acquisition values Tegna shares at $22 each, reflecting a 31% premium over the company's average trading price prior to the announcement [1][9] Competitive Landscape - Nexstar outbid rival Sinclair, which had offered between $25 and $30 per share, despite Sinclair's lower market capitalization of $1 billion compared to Nexstar's $6.3 billion [2][3] - Sinclair is burdened with over $4 billion in debt, complicating its ability to pursue major acquisitions [3] Strategic Rationale - Nexstar's CEO Perry Sook emphasized that the deal aligns with the Trump administration's deregulatory policies, allowing local broadcasters to enhance their reach and compete against larger tech and media companies [4] - The merger will expand Nexstar's presence in key metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, and Minneapolis, thereby strengthening its national coverage [4][11] Operational Synergies - The combination of Tegna's television properties with Nexstar's extensive station network is expected to reinforce Nexstar's dominance in local broadcasting [7] - Sook highlighted Nexstar's successful acquisition history, including the purchase of Tribune Media, and outlined strategies to enhance local programming and achieve cost efficiencies [7][8] Industry Context - The deal comes at a challenging time for traditional linear television, as broadcasters face competition from streaming platforms and tech companies for viewers and advertising revenue [12] - The merger is seen as a means for stations to better compete in a fragmented media landscape [12]

Core Insights - Pop Mart's net profit surged nearly 400% in the first half of the year, reaching $636 million, significantly exceeding estimates of a 350% rise for the entire year [1][5] - Revenue increased by 204.4% to approximately $1.93 billion, outperforming the 62% growth from the same period last year [1] - The explosive demand for Labubu dolls, particularly in overseas markets, has driven this growth, with the toys selling for higher prices and generating larger margins in regions like North America [2] Sales and Market Performance - Labubu sales are projected to exceed 10 million units per day by September, with foreign sales expected to surpass domestic sales this year [7] - "The Monsters" intellectual property, which includes Labubu dolls, accounted for 34.7% of Pop Mart's total revenue [8] Product and Marketing Strategy - Labubu dolls are sold in "blind boxes," creating a collectible market where certain rare designs can fetch high prices, with one figurine recently selling for $150,000 at auction [3] - Celebrity endorsements from figures like K-pop singer Lisa, Rihanna, and David Beckham have contributed to the popularity of Labubu dolls [4] Expansion and Retail Presence - Pop Mart operates 571 retail stores and 2,597 robot shops across 18 countries and regions, with plans to open 100 new outlets outside mainland China this year [11] - The company recently opened a megastore in Iconsiam, a large shopping center in Bangkok [10]

Mario Gabelli's GAMCO alleged that Redstone's investment vehicle, National Amusements , received $60 for each of its Class A Paramount shares while public shareholders only received $23. REUTERS A representative of Redstone declined to comment, and Skydance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit, which was filed under seal on Wednesday in Delaware's Court of Chancery. Billionaire investor Mario Gabelli's investment fund filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Paramount Global ...

Group 1 - Paramount's president Jeff Shell indicated that upcoming job cuts will be "painful" but will occur quickly, with an expectation of $2 billion in cuts [1][3] - Shell emphasized the importance of avoiding quarterly layoffs, contrasting with the previous leadership's approach [2][3] - The restructuring could potentially exceed the $2 billion target, although no specific timeline was provided for the layoffs [5][6] Group 2 - Paramount recently acquired exclusive rights to show UFC matches in the US in a $7.7 billion, seven-year deal starting in 2026, which significantly boosted the company's stock by 37% [9][10] - Following the initial surge, the stock experienced a slight decline of 4%, closing at $14.38 [10]