Core Viewpoint - The ongoing focus on artificial intelligence (AI) transactions is leading to both optimism and concerns among investors regarding potential asset bubbles and missed opportunities in other sectors [1] Group 1: Market Trends - Strong earnings reports have alleviated concerns despite accumulating economic warning signals [1] - Analysts suggest that as Wall Street concentrates on popular sectors, contrarian strategies may reveal overlooked investment opportunities [1] - A group of analysts from Bank of America raised a question about whether excessive focus on the AI sector might cause investors to overlook other opportunities [1] Group 2: Selected Stocks - Viking Cruises (VIK) stands out in the hotel service industry due to its differentiated, all-inclusive, destination-focused products, leading to superior financial performance and over 50% market share in the river cruise sector [2] - McCormick & Company (MKC) is expected to rebound from tariff policy adjustments, potentially benefiting from a tariff exemption and being one of the few companies in the packaged food sector to achieve organic sales and volume growth [2] - Dollar General (DG) is performing well due to the trend of consumers "trading down" in response to inflation, with an increase in basket size and a successful e-commerce strategy [3]

Industry Overview - U.S. holiday sales are projected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time, with an expected growth of 3.7-4.2% year over year, translating to sales of $1.01-$1.02 trillion [3] - Last year's holiday sales rose 4.3% year over year to $976.1 billion [3] - An uncertain macroeconomic outlook, influenced by trade policies and the ongoing government shutdown, has negatively impacted consumer confidence [1] Retailer Recommendations - Five retailers are recommended for investment during the holiday season: Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), Walmart Inc. (WMT), Tapestry Inc. (TPR), Dollar General Corp. (DG), and Expedia Group Inc. (EXPE), all carrying a favorable Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [2] Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) - Amazon is benefiting from growth in Amazon Web Services (AWS), which contributed $33.01 billion in Q3 2025, up 20.2% year over year [11] - Online sales and subscription revenues increased by 9.8% and 11.5% year over year, respectively, while advertising revenue climbed 23.5% [12] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 11.2% and 9.9%, respectively, with a 2.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [14] Walmart Inc. (WMT) - Walmart's diversified business model and strong omnichannel strategy have boosted traffic across physical and digital platforms [15] - The company has enhanced its delivery capabilities, including partnerships and new services, leading to steady grocery market share gains [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 4.4% and 12.5%, respectively, with a 0.7% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [17] Tapestry Inc. (TPR) - Tapestry is experiencing growth driven by strong engagement from Gen Z and millennials, with significant expansion in North America, Europe, and Greater China [18] - The company's international business saw a 10% year-over-year growth in Europe and an 18% surge in Greater China [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 3.4% and 9.5%, respectively, with a 1.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last seven days [20] Dollar General Corp. (DG) - Dollar General's growth is supported by disciplined cost management and a customer-centric model, with a focus on value pricing and supply-chain optimization [21] - The company is expanding its omnichannel presence through partnerships, which is driving higher store traffic and basket sizes [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 4.2% and 8.4%, respectively, with a 0.8% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [24] Expedia Group Inc. (EXPE) - Expedia benefits from a strong platform model that enhances customer insights and strengthens supplier relationships, driving revenue growth [25] - The company's diverse brand portfolio allows it to cater to a wide range of global traveler needs, boosting traffic and bookings [26] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 2% and 17.8%, respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [26]

Core Viewpoint - VINCI SA has conducted a series of share buybacks from November 03 to November 07, 2025, under the authorization granted by its General Meeting on April 17, 2025, in compliance with share buyback regulations [2]. Group 1: Share Buyback Transactions - Total shares purchased during the specified period amounted to 479,056 shares, with an average purchase price of €115.9411 [2]. - The daily breakdown of transactions shows varying volumes and prices across different markets, with the highest daily volume recorded on November 03, 2025, at 76,868 shares [2]. - The average prices for shares purchased ranged from €115.3875 to €116.9432 across different days and markets [2]. Group 2: Market Details - Transactions were executed on multiple markets, including XPAR, CEUX, and TQEX, indicating a diversified approach to share buybacks [2]. - The highest average price recorded during the buyback period was €116.9432 on November 05, 2025 [2]. - The buyback activity reflects the company's strategy to manage its capital and potentially enhance shareholder value [2].

Core Insights - The article discusses the best defensive dividend stocks for 2025, focusing on companies that are well-positioned to endure market fluctuations and have strong financial performance. Consumer Spending Trends - Global consumer spending is still below pre-pandemic levels, with persistent inflation affecting budgets [2] - There is a declining connection between consumer spending and sentiment, making future consumer behavior unpredictable [2] - Behavioral changes from COVID, such as reliance on digital platforms and prioritizing convenience, have become ingrained in consumer habits [3] Generational Insights - Generation Z is emerging as the largest and wealthiest generation, with spending habits evolving faster than previous generations [4] - This generation prioritizes financial success over traditional milestones, such as marriage or having children [4] - Consumers are increasingly favoring local brands over imported products to support domestic businesses and ensure affordability [4] Market Adaptations - Consumers are now more purposeful in their spending, focusing on volume growth rather than price increases due to rising costs [5] - Digital shopping experiences are preferred for their convenience, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards online platforms [5] Company Highlights - **Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ:KDP)**: - Hedge Fund Holders: 46 - Dividend Yield: 3.44% - Recent acquisition of JDE Peet's for $7 billion aims to address investor concerns about debt levels [11] - Jefferies maintains a Buy rating despite a price target reduction from $41 to $39 [12] - The company has a history of increasing dividend payouts and plans for expansion [13] - **Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)**: - Hedge Fund Holders: 55 - Dividend Yield: 2.38% - Analyst Bernstein maintains a Buy rating with a price target of $134 [14] - Appointment of Travis Nixon as Senior VP of AI Optimization to enhance operational efficiency [15] - The company aims to drive innovation and improve customer experience through AI integration [16]

Core Insights - Crude Value Insights provides an investment service and community focused on the oil and natural gas sector, emphasizing cash flow and the companies that generate it, which leads to value and growth prospects with real potential [1] - Subscribers have access to a model account with over 50 stocks, in-depth cash flow analyses of exploration and production (E&P) firms, and live chat discussions about the sector [1] Subscription Offer - A two-week free trial is available for new subscribers, allowing them to explore the oil and gas investment opportunities [2]

Core Insights - The article compares Dollar General (DG) and Ross Stores (ROST) to determine which stock is more undervalued for investors interested in retail discount stores [1] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Estimates - Dollar General has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a more favorable earnings estimate revision activity compared to Ross Stores, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - The improving analyst outlook for Dollar General suggests a stronger potential for earnings growth [3] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - Dollar General has a forward P/E ratio of 16.26, significantly lower than Ross Stores' forward P/E of 26.20, indicating that DG may be undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for Dollar General is 2.10, while Ross Stores has a PEG ratio of 3.12, further suggesting that DG is a better value option [5] - Dollar General's P/B ratio is 2.74, compared to Ross Stores' P/B of 9.2, reinforcing the notion that DG is more attractively priced [6] Group 3: Value Grades - Based on various fundamental metrics, Dollar General has earned a Value grade of A, while Ross Stores has a Value grade of C, indicating a stronger value proposition for DG [6]

Core Insights - Dollar General (DG) has shown strong year-to-date performance, returning approximately 31.6%, significantly outperforming the average gain of 8.8% in the Retail-Wholesale sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DG's full-year earnings has increased by 6.3% over the past three months, indicating improved analyst sentiment [4] - Dollar General holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is positioned to outperform the broader market in the near term [3] Company Performance - Dollar General is part of the Retail-Wholesale group, which consists of 195 companies and is currently ranked 12 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - Within the Retail - Discount Stores industry, Dollar General is ranked 100, with the industry averaging a gain of 4.6% year-to-date, further highlighting DG's superior performance [6] Comparison with Peers - Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is another stock in the Retail-Wholesale sector that has outperformed, with a year-to-date increase of 18.8% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - The Retail - Miscellaneous industry, to which Ulta Beauty belongs, is currently ranked 70 and has shown no growth this year [6]

Group 1 - Dollar General is undergoing a digital transformation with the appointment of Travis Nixon as senior vice president of artificial intelligence optimization to enhance operations and customer experience [3][4][8] - The company reported a 5.1% year-over-year increase in net sales to $10.7 billion for Q2, with same-store sales rising by 2.8% and an upward revision of its full-year guidance [6] - Competitor Dollar Tree is also focusing on AI, with plans to replace legacy systems and improve various operational aspects, indicating a broader trend in the retail industry towards AI integration [5] Group 2 - The new executive role at Dollar General reflects a commitment to innovation and operational excellence through strategic AI integration [4][8] - AI is becoming a core component of retail operations, with other companies like Ralph Lauren and Lululemon also incorporating it into their executive strategies [3][4] - Nixon's previous experience includes leadership roles at Dropbox, Meta, and Microsoft, suggesting a strong background in AI and technology [8]

Core Points - VINCI SA has conducted share buybacks from October 27 to October 31, 2025, under the authorization granted by its General Meeting on April 17, 2025 [2] - A total of 551,476 shares were purchased during this period, with an average daily weighted price of €117.3025 [2] Summary by Category Share Buyback Transactions - On October 27, 2025, VINCI purchased a total of 103,413 shares across three markets, with prices ranging from €119.6067 to €119.6113 [2] - On October 28, 2025, the company bought 134,368 shares, with prices between €117.5872 and €118.3763 [2] - On October 29, 2025, VINCI acquired 133,725 shares, with prices from €116.4747 to €116.7519 [2] - On October 30, 2025, the total shares purchased were 89,000, with prices ranging from €116.1934 to €116.2192 [2] - On October 31, 2025, VINCI bought 90,970 shares, with prices between €115.8871 and €115.9053 [2] Market Performance - The buybacks were executed across multiple markets, including XPAR, CEUX, and TQEX, indicating a diversified approach to share repurchase [2] - The daily weighted average prices show a slight decline over the buyback period, starting from €119.6090 on October 27 to €115.8871 on October 31 [2]

Core Points - The total number of shares forming the capital of the company is €1,467,334,437.50 [1] - As of 31 October 2025, the total number of shares is 586,933,775 [1] - The theoretical number of voting rights is also 586,933,775, which includes treasury stock [1] - The number of voting rights excluding treasury stock is 558,394,791 [1] Financial Information - The registered office of the company is located at 1973, boulevard de la Défense, 92000 Nanterre, France [1] - The company is registered under the number 552 037 806 RCS Nanterre [1] - The information is disclosed on the company's website www.vinci.com [1][2]