We recently published 10 Losing Stocks in an Otherwise Optimistic Market. Flagstar Bank NA (NYSE:FLG) was one of the worst performers on Wednesday. Flagstar dropped its share prices by 4.26 percent on Wednesday to close at $13.50 apiece as investors booked early profits following an intra-day rally. During the session, the stock opened at $14.20 and hit a day high of $14.29, or just 1.8-percent shy of its 52-week high of $14.54. In other news, Flagstar Bank NA (NYSE:FLG) is set to pay $0.01 worth of div ...

Core Viewpoint - Chase is committed to expanding its physical branch presence by hiring more employees, renovating existing outlets, and opening new branches, reflecting a long-term strategy that dates back to the post-financial crisis era [1][2]. Group 1: Branch Expansion Strategy - Chase plans to hire an additional 1,100 retail banking employees, renovate 600 outlets, and open 160 new branches, aiming to add over 10,500 consumer bank staff by the end of the year [1]. - The branch strategy is rooted in a goal set around 2024 to add more than 500 branches by 2027, continuing a trend established after the 2008-2009 financial crisis [1]. Group 2: Branch Network Comparison - Chase's branch network has decreased slightly from 5,229 branches in 2009 to approximately 4,993 today, a reduction of only 236 outlets or 4.5% [3][5]. - In contrast, Bank of America and Wells Fargo have seen significant reductions in their branch networks, with Bank of America down by 2,598 branches (almost 42%) and Wells Fargo down by 2,553 branches (about 38%) since 2009 [5]. Group 3: Market Position and Deposits - Chase became the largest US bank by deposits in 2020, surpassing Bank of America, and has maintained this position every year since [6]. - The overall trend in the US shows a decline in branch numbers, but the rate of closure is slower compared to the UK and much of Europe [7]. Group 4: Branch Density - The total number of US bank branches peaked at 99,550 in 2009 and has since fallen to around 74,000, resulting in a branch density of 21.7 branches per 100,000 people [8]. - In comparison, the UK has approximately 4,600 bank branches serving a population of 69 million, leading to a branch density of about 6.6 branches per 100,000 people, which is less than one-third of the US figure [8].

Shares in Nestlé rose Thursday. - Denis Balibouse/Reuters Nestlé said it would offload its remaining ice-cream business and pull back from a raft of brands as part of a broader plan to revive the packaged-food giant’s fortunes. The maker of KitKat chocolate bars and Nescafé coffee is pursuing a turnaround under new Chief Executive Philipp Navratil after a string of setbacks, weaker-than-expected results and management upheaval in recent years. Most Read from The Wall Street Journal On Thursday, Navrat ...

Core Insights - The restaurant industry is facing challenges, but the company has shown resilience with steady revenue and improved operational metrics [1][4][25] - The company achieved record annual revenue and adjusted diluted earnings per share, supported by strong operational execution and culinary innovation [4][14][25] - The company plans to open up to 26 new restaurants in 2026, reflecting confidence in its development pipeline and commitment to long-term growth [6][24] Financial Performance - Total revenues for the fourth quarter were $961.6 million, with adjusted diluted earnings per share at $1, finishing toward the higher end of expectations [14][19] - Comparable sales for The Cheesecake Factory declined by 2.2% in the fourth quarter, while North Italia saw an 8% increase in sales [10][15] - Adjusted restaurant-level profit margins for The Cheesecake Factory increased to 17.6%, with North Italia at 17.5% and Flower Child at 18.5% [12][14] Operational Highlights - The company opened seven new restaurants in the fourth quarter, contributing to a total of 25 new openings for the year, achieving approximately 7% unit growth [5][24] - Labor productivity and guest satisfaction improved, supported by high retention rates among staff [7][11] - The introduction of new menu items has resonated well with guests, enhancing the overall dining experience [8][33] Market Trends - Industry sales decelerated in the fourth quarter, with the Black Box Casual Dining Index declining by 40 basis points [10] - The company’s off-premise sales mix was 22%, indicating a stable demand for delivery and takeout options [10][76] - The company anticipates total revenues for fiscal 2026 to be approximately $3.9 billion, with inflation across commodities and labor expected to be in the low to mid-single digits [21][22] Strategic Initiatives - The company plans to launch a dedicated rewards app to enhance guest experience and engagement, expected in the second quarter [61][66] - There is a focus on menu innovation, particularly with the introduction of bites and bowls, which have shown strong attachment rates [9][33] - The company is committed to disciplined capital allocation, increasing share repurchase authorization and raising quarterly dividends [6][25]

Core Insights - Walmart's quarterly earnings slightly exceeded Wall Street estimates, marking the first report under new CEO John Furner [1] - The retailer's market capitalization recently surpassed $1 trillion for the first time [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 were reported at $0.74, slightly above the forecast of $0.73 [1] - Revenue for the quarter increased by 5.6% to $190.7 billion, aligning closely with Wall Street's expectations of $190.6 billion [2] - For fiscal year 2026, Walmart's total revenue reached $715.9 billion, slightly above estimates, with adjusted earnings per share at $2.64, a cent higher than expected [3] Stock Performance - Walmart's shares rose by 1% in premarket trading and have increased over 13% year to date [4] Future Guidance - For the first quarter, Walmart anticipates revenue growth of 3.5-4.5% and adjusted earnings per share of $0.63-$0.65, which is below Wall Street's expectations of 5% growth and earnings of $0.69 [4] - For fiscal year 2027, the company expects revenue growth of 3.5%-4.5% and adjusted earnings of $2.75-$2.85, also conservative compared to Wall Street's forecast of nearly 5% growth and earnings of $2.97 [5] - CFO John David Rainey indicated a cautious approach due to an unstable economic backdrop, despite no significant changes in consumer behavior [5] Operational Highlights - Quarterly same-store sales in the US grew by 4.6%, surpassing estimates of 4.3%, driven by e-commerce strength and a 2.6% increase in transactions [6]

“The future is fast, convenient, and personalized,” said John Furner, Walmart’s brand-new CEO, in an earnings statement released Thursday morning. And the company’s latest results show the entire organization leaning hard into that vision, with noticeable results. For the quarter ending January 31, Walmart raked in revenue of almost $191 billion, up some 5.6% year over year. Operating income climbed even faster, topping 10% growth to nearly $9 billion. Earnings per share fell on a GAAP basis, but rose on ...

Saving your first $1,000 can feel both exciting and nerve wracking. Many people let that money sit in cash or chase a “hot” investment, only to see inflation or bad timing quietly erode its value. Ramit Sethi, finance influencer and author of “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” argued in a recent YouTube video that how you invest your first $1,000 matters less than the system you build around it. Here’s how he would invest $1,000. Should you do what he said? His advice may speak for itself. Why Letting $1K S ...

Group 1: Industry Overview - Oil continues to play a fundamental role in the global energy landscape, with BP estimating that global oil demand will grow through 2030 due to relaxed carbon emission curbs [1] - The Trump administration's support for domestic energy is expected to continue, particularly with rising energy demands for data centers, which will likely increase natural gas requirements [2] Group 2: Company Profile - ConocoPhillips - ConocoPhillips is one of the world's largest exploration and production companies, operating primarily in oil-rich regions of the southern United States, including the Delaware, Eagle Ford, and Midland basins [4] - The company expanded its operations by acquiring Marathon Oil in late 2024 [4] Group 3: Financial Performance and Projections - ConocoPhillips generated $7.3 billion in free cash flow in 2025, with management projecting an increase of $1 billion annually for 2026, 2027, and 2028, and a potential surge of $4 billion in 2029 when a major project in Alaska begins production [5] - Overall, company-wide cash flow could double by the end of the decade [5] Group 4: Shareholder Returns - ConocoPhillips is expected to return significant cash to shareholders, although the amount available for dividends and share repurchases is heavily influenced by market prices for oil and gas [6] - Management's cash flow projections are based on an average WTI crude oil price of $70 per barrel, with current prices around $63, indicating that lower prices would jeopardize cash flow, while higher prices could provide upside [7]

Sam Basu quit his job as a senior software engineer at Google in early 2023, not long after OpenAI released ChatGPT. He took a few stabs at starting new AI businesses, but nothing really stuck until he got a call from a friend who wanted help filling out customs paperwork. Basu got “very curious” and started cold-calling customs brokers in the Los Angeles area. He learned that many are mom-and-pop affairs still deeply reliant on fax machines and paper. When his first customer showed him stacks of manila ...

PaeGAG / Shutterstock Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Cash is king, right? Well, not always. Sometimes you can have so much cash sitting around in your bank account that it turns into a wealth-devouring demon. On average, American families had about $62,410 in their checking accounts, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances (1). For most people, that balance is simply higher than it should be. Top Picks In ...