Market Overview - Major indexes reached record-setting closing highs last week, but pre-market futures indicate a sell-off with the Dow down 170 points, S&P 500 down 22 points, Nasdaq down 92 points, and Russell 2000 down 5.5 points [1] - Bond yields remain flat, with the 10-year yield at 4.13% and the 2-year yield at 3.58% [1] Earnings Reports and Economic Data - No major earnings reports or economic data are expected today, as the market is in between quarterly earnings seasons [2] - Early Q3 earnings season is considered underway, with companies like FedEx already reporting [5] - Upcoming earnings reports include AutoZone, Micron, KB Home, and Costco [5] Economic Indicators - This week will see the release of New & Existing Home Sales figures for August, flash Services PMI from S&P and ISM, Retail/Wholesale Inventories, Durable Goods Orders, and the final print on Q2 GDP [6] - Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) for August will be released on Friday, which is the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation [6] Inflation Metrics - Headline PCE year over year is expected to increase by 10 basis points to +2.7%, following two months at +2.6% and a low of +2.2% in April [7] - Core PCE year over year is expected to remain at +2.9%, consistent with previous months [8] - The Fed's optimal inflation level is +2.0%, with the closest metric reaching +2.6% in April of this year [8]

Key Takeaways Porsche delays EV launches and shifts SUV plans to combustion and hybrid options.Rescheduled EV platform adds up to EUR1.8B costs, cutting 2025 profit forecasts.Volkswagen lowers margin view to 2-3%, Porsche to 2% sales return outlook.Volkswagen AG’s (VWAGY) subsidiary, Porsche, has delayed its electric vehicle rollout amid weaker demand, challenges in China and higher U.S. tariffs. The shift has prompted both Porsche and Volkswagen to reduce their profit forecasts for 2025.Per Oliver Blume, ...

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) and The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) are leading players in the Retail–Discount Stores industry, with Costco having a market capitalization of approximately $421.8 billion and TJX at around $155.6 billion [1][2] - The key question is which of these retail giants presents a better investment opportunity amid changing consumer habits and economic volatility [3] Costco Overview - Costco's membership-based model is a key growth driver, with high renewal rates indicating strong customer loyalty and a recurring revenue stream [4] - The company is enhancing its digital capabilities and fulfillment network, investing in e-commerce, delivery services, and flexible payment options to create a seamless omnichannel experience [5] - Costco maintains competitive pricing and healthy margins through rigorous cost control and operational efficiency, leveraging bulk purchasing power and an efficient supply chain [6] - The success of Kirkland Signature, Costco's private-label brand, supports margin expansion and enhances competitive differentiation [7] TJX Companies Overview - TJX Companies has demonstrated consistent operational strength with a resilient business model that resonates with consumers seeking value and quality [8] - The company's exceptional merchandising and sourcing capabilities allow it to offer high-quality products at attractive prices, contributing to steady traffic growth across its banners [9] - In Q2 fiscal 2026, TJX reported earnings of $1.10 per share, a 15% year-over-year increase, driven by a 7% rise in consolidated net sales [10][11] - TJX plans to open over 1,800 additional stores and sees growth opportunities through its joint venture in Mexico and investments in the Middle East [12][13] Financial Performance and Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco's current fiscal-year sales and EPS suggests year-over-year growth of 8.2% and 11.7%, respectively [14] - For TJX, the current fiscal-year sales and EPS estimates indicate a year-over-year increase of 5.4% and 7.5%, respectively [16] - Costco's stock has advanced 5.5% over the past year, while TJX shares have surged 19%, both outperforming the industry's modest rise of 3.1% [19] Valuation Comparison - Costco is trading at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 48.59, lower than its one-year median of 50.61, while TJX's forward P/E ratio stands at 28.76, above its median of 27.03 [20] Investment Outlook - Both Costco and TJX possess unique strengths, but TJX appears to have an edge due to broader growth opportunities, store expansion potential, and effective navigation of economic cycles [22]

Assembly Biosciences (ASMB) shares ended the last trading session 9.8% higher at $24.46. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 16.4% loss over the past four weeks.Assembly Biosciences’ sudden stock price gain can be attributed to the positive investor mindset regarding the potential of the company’s innovative pipeline, comprising four candidates being developed in separate early-stage studies for the tre ...

Dividend Increase - Philip Morris International Inc. has raised its quarterly dividend by 8.9% to $1.47 per share, with the annualized dividend now totaling $5.88 per share, marking a total increase of 219.6% since 2008 [1][8] - The next dividend payment is scheduled for October 20, 2025, to shareholders on record as of October 3, 2025 [1] Growth Strategy - The company's long-term growth strategy is focused on its smoke-free transformation, with smoke-free products contributing 41% of total net revenues in Q2 2025, growing 15.2% year over year [2] - Key products driving this growth include IQOS, ZYN, and VEEV, positioning the company for sustainable growth and long-term value creation [2] Traditional Cigarette Business - Despite volume declines, the traditional cigarette business remains resilient, with combustible net revenues growing 2.1% in Q2, driven by price increases [3] - Marlboro achieved its highest quarterly market share since the 2008 spin-off, reinforcing the brand's strength and pricing leadership [3] Cost Efficiency Initiatives - The company achieved over $500 million in gross cost savings in the first half of the year through optimization initiatives, aiming for $2 billion in gross cost efficiencies between 2024 and 2026 [4] - By mid-2025, the company has already realized more than $1.2 billion in cost efficiencies, contributing to margin expansion [4] Earnings Outlook - Management has lifted its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to a range of $7.43-$7.56, indicating a growth of 13-15% [5] - This outlook reflects management's confidence in sustaining double-digit earnings growth despite ongoing regulatory and currency challenges [5] Stock Performance - Over the past six months, Philip Morris stock has risen 7.6%, compared to the industry's growth of 15.7% [10]

Core Insights - RLI Corp. (RLI) shares are trading at a premium compared to the Zacks Property and Casualty Insurance industry, with a price-to-book value of 3.42X, exceeding the industry average of 1.54X, the Finance sector's 4.37X, and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 8.74X [1] - RLI shares have experienced a decline of 13.2% over the past year, contrasting with the industry's return of 6.1% [2] - RLI has a market capitalization of $5.93 billion, with an average trading volume of 0.6 million shares over the last three months [3] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RLI's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 7.3% [4] - The consensus estimate for revenues in 2025 is projected at $1.77 billion, reflecting a year-over-year improvement of 6.3% [4] - For 2026, the revenue estimate indicates a further increase of 3.4% from the 2025 estimates [4] Financial Performance - RLI's return on equity (ROE) has improved, with a trailing 12 months ROE of 15.8%, significantly higher than the industry average of 7.7% [5] - RLI has maintained a strong track record of underwriting profitability for 29 consecutive years, showcasing its operational strength [9][12] Strategic Factors - RLI is growing through product diversification, focusing on new product introductions, re-underwriting, and business expansion, which positions the company well for improved revenue generation [6] - The company has a conservative underwriting and reserving policy, allowing for favorable reserve releases despite incurring catastrophe losses [6] - RLI has a robust dividend history, having raised regular dividends for 50 years and paid special dividends since 2011, making it attractive for yield-seeking investors [10][12] Balance Sheet and Capital Structure - RLI is strengthening its balance sheet by improving liquidity and leverage, which supports its operations and long-term book value growth [11] - The company’s sound capital structure enhances its ability to meet policyholder interests and drive operational efficiency [11]

Core Insights - Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has received FDA approval for a subcutaneous formulation, Keytruda Qlex, which is expected to launch commercially later this month [1][2] - The subcutaneous version offers improved patient convenience, reducing administration time from at least 30 minutes for the IV version to as little as one minute [2] - The approval is backed by pivotal studies showing that Keytruda Qlex is at least as effective as the IV formulation, with a regulatory filing for the SC version also under review in Europe [3] Group 1: Keytruda Qlex Approval and Market Impact - The approval of Keytruda Qlex is timely as Merck faces the potential loss of exclusivity for Keytruda IV in 2028, which currently accounts for over 48% of the company's revenue [4] - Keytruda IV generated over $15 billion in sales during the first half of 2025, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase [4] - The new SC version comes with its own patents that extend protection beyond 2028, allowing Merck to manage Keytruda's lifecycle effectively [5] Group 2: Challenges and Competitive Landscape - Merck is experiencing a decline in sales of its second-largest product, Gardasil, which has dropped 48% year over year due to weak demand in China [6] - Competitive pressure for Keytruda may increase from dual PD-1/VEGF inhibitors like Summit Therapeutics' ivonescimab, which has shown potential to outperform Keytruda [9][10] - Merck is actively pursuing innovative combinations and partnerships, including a collaboration with Moderna to develop a personalized mRNA therapeutic cancer vaccine [8] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - Merck's shares have underperformed the industry year to date, with a current price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.67, lower than the industry average of 14.88 and its 5-year mean of 12.70 [11][13] - Movements in EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been mixed over the past 60 days, indicating uncertainty in future earnings [15] - Merck currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), reflecting a cautious outlook [16]

Company Overview - Amgen's shares increased by 3.5% to close at $285.41, supported by higher trading volume compared to normal sessions, following a 6.7% decline over the past four weeks [1] - The advisory committee to the European Medicine Agency recommended expanding the use of Uplizna for treating adult patients with active immunoglobulin G4-related disease, a rare autoimmune condition lacking approved therapies in the EU [2] Financial Performance - Amgen is expected to report quarterly earnings of $5.01 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 10.2%, while revenues are projected to be $8.93 billion, an increase of 5% from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate for Amgen has been revised 1.6% lower in the last 30 days, indicating a negative trend in earnings estimate revisions, which typically does not lead to price appreciation [4] Industry Context - Amgen operates within the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, where Dynavax Technologies, another company in the same sector, experienced a 0.6% decline in its stock price [4] - Dynavax Technologies has an unchanged consensus EPS estimate of $0.14 for its upcoming report, representing a 16.7% increase from the previous year [5]

Key Takeaways Corning expands durable cover materials with Gorilla Glass Ceramic for stronger device protection.GLW launches Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 with embedded crystals to boost toughness and transparency.Corning's Gen 10 glass substrates cut costs, enhance display quality and serve rising LCD demand.Corning Incorporated (GLW) is focusing on expanding its portfolio of durable cover materials to gain a competitive advantage against rivals. The Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic boasts an advanced protective la ...

Market Overview - Major indexes reached record-setting closing highs last week, but pre-market futures indicate a sell-off with the Dow down 170 points, S&P 500 down 22 points, Nasdaq down 92 points, and Russell 2000 down 5.5 points [1] - Bond yields remain flat, with the 10-year yield at 4.13% and the 2-year yield at 3.58% [1] Earnings Reports and Economic Data - No major earnings reports or economic data are expected today, as the market is in between quarterly earnings seasons [2] - Early Q3 earnings season is considered underway, with companies like FedEx already reporting [5] - Upcoming earnings reports include AutoZone, Micron, KB Home, and Costco [5] Federal Reserve Insights - Fed officials, including New York Fed President John Williams and others, will be speaking today [2] - Recent monetary policy decisions included a 25 basis points cut in interest rates, with Stephen Miran advocating for a more aggressive 50 basis points cut [3][4] - The Fed's preferred gauge of inflation, Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), is set to be released, with expectations for a year-over-year increase to 2.7% for August [6][7] Inflation Metrics - Core PCE is expected to remain at 2.9%, with the Fed's optimal inflation level at 2.0% [8]