Core Viewpoint - Macy's Inc. is facing stock price fluctuations and is under scrutiny ahead of its upcoming earnings report, with Citigroup adjusting its rating to Neutral and revising the price target to $19 [1][5]. Stock Performance - Macy's stock closed at $19.15, reflecting a 4.2% decline from the previous day, which is more significant than the broader market declines of the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq [2][5]. - Over the past month, Macy's shares have increased by 12.18%, outperforming the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 0.48% and the S&P 500's increase of 1.48% [2]. Earnings Expectations - The company is expected to report an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.14, representing a 450% decrease from the same quarter last year [3]. - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $4.59 billion, indicating a 3.25% decline from the previous year [3][5]. - Full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $2 per share [3]. Stock Metrics - Currently, Macy's stock is priced at $19.51, with a daily increase of 1.88% or $0.36, and has fluctuated between a low of $19 and a high of $19.68 during the trading day [4]. - Over the past year, the stock has reached a high of $21.25 and a low of $9.76, with a market capitalization of approximately $5.24 billion and a trading volume of 4,723,131 shares [4].

Group 1 - The consumer landscape this holiday season is diverse, with low-income consumers facing challenges while high-income earners and the wealthy continue to spend aggressively [1] - The spending patterns observed during this holiday season may significantly influence economic conditions leading into 2026 [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding different consumer segments rather than viewing "the consumer" as a single entity [1]

Market Performance - Major U.S. indexes showed mixed performance last week, with the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average declining by 2.7%, 1.4%, and 0.5% respectively [1] - Investors are shifting focus from high-valuation technology and AI stocks to more defensive sectors due to market volatility [1] Federal Reserve and Economic Data - The end of a 43-day government standoff has reduced political risks, but delays in key economic data releases have created uncertainty for the Federal Reserve and investors [2] - The Fed is balancing economic growth and inflation, with inflation remaining above the 2% target and a resilient labor market casting doubt on December rate cut expectations [2] Zacks Research Performance - Zacks Research has provided guidance that led to significant stock performance, with Macy's shares increasing by 14.9% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on September 18, outperforming the S&P 500's 2.2% increase [3][4] - Fresnillo plc also saw a 7.2% return since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on September 19, compared to the S&P 500's 1.8% increase [4] Zacks Model Portfolio Returns - A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks returned +8.64% in 2025 through September 1, outperforming the S&P 500's +7.60% [4] - The Zacks Model Portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 index by over 12 percentage points since 1988, with an annualized average return of +23.8% compared to +11.3% for the S&P 500 [5] Specific Stock Performances - United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) shares increased by 32.4% after its Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform [7] - Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) gained 35.9% over the past 12 weeks, while CACI International Inc. (CACI) returned 20.1% during the same period [10] Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) - The ECAP returned -1.30% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +8.1% gain, and +2.72% year-to-date compared to the S&P 500's +14.84% [15] - The portfolio aims to minimize capital loss by holding shares of companies with a proven track record of earnings stability [16] Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) returned 10.9% over the past 12 weeks, while UnitedHealth Group (UNH) increased by 5.9% [18] - The ECDP returned -0.01% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +8.1% gain [20] Top 10 Stock Portfolio - MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) has jumped 41.2% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500's 14.7% increase [22] - The Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,553.1% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's +545.2% [24]

You can't blame declining foot traffic for pushing mall retailers to close stores. "After a relatively weak summer performance, malls rebounded sharply in October 2025, with foot traffic to indoor malls, open-air shopping centers, and outlet malls rising significantly both year over year (YoY) and month over month (MoM)," according to data from Placer.ai. That's likely a good sign for the holiday season. "All mall formats saw clear YoY visit gains in October 2025, potentially signaling renewed consumer ...

Core Viewpoint - Macy's is positioned well to continue its trend of beating earnings estimates, supported by a strong history of performance in recent quarters [1][2]. Earnings Performance - Macy's has consistently surpassed earnings estimates, achieving an average beat of 65.04% over the last two quarters [2]. - In the most recent quarter, Macy's reported earnings of $0.41 per share against an expectation of $0.19, resulting in a surprise of 115.79% [2]. - For the previous quarter, the company reported $0.16 per share, exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.14, which was a surprise of 14.29% [2]. Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Recent estimates for Macy's have been revised upward, indicating positive sentiment among analysts [5]. - The Zacks Earnings ESP for Macy's is currently +14.82%, suggesting bullish expectations for upcoming earnings [8]. - A positive Earnings ESP combined with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) indicates a high likelihood of another earnings beat [8]. Statistical Insights - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [6]. - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, reflecting the latest analyst revisions [7]. Importance of Earnings ESP - Monitoring a company's Earnings ESP before quarterly releases is crucial for increasing the likelihood of successful investment decisions [10].

Core Insights - Macy's has been struggling with declining sales, leading to store closures and layoffs, as it rethinks its future in the retail landscape [1][3] - The company is reversing its decision to close its iconic Union Square location in San Francisco, indicating a shift in its transformation strategy [2][6] - Macy's has launched a "Bold New Chapter" strategy, planning to close around 150 underperforming stores by 2026 while focusing on its stronger locations [3][4] Company Strategy - The "Bold New Chapter" strategy aims to concentrate investments on 350 stronger locations and prioritize more profitable divisions like Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury [3] - Over the past decade, Macy's has closed more than a third of its stores, including significant locations like the Union Square flagship [4][5] - The company is exploring new development options for the Union Square site in partnership with TMG Partners, keeping the flagship open through at least Q1 2026 [7]

Macy's has faced persistent sales declines in recent years, prompting the retailer to launch an ambitious transformation plan aimed at regaining customer loyalty and achieving sustainable, profitable growth. As part of this effort, the company has been consolidating operations by closing dozens of stores and laying off hundreds of corporate and retail employees. With the holidays and seasonal sales fast approaching, i.e., the busiest time of year for the retail industry, most retailers are preparing by h ...

Core Insights - Macy's is closing its Backstage operation at the South Windsor, Connecticut distribution center, affecting 106 employees, with layoffs occurring between December 28, 2025, and January 10, 2026 [1][2][3] - The company is centralizing Backstage operations to a dedicated facility in Columbus, Ohio, as part of its supply chain modernization efforts [3] - Macy's is implementing a "Bold New Chapter" transformation plan aimed at optimizing its supply chain network to enhance profitability [3][4] Employee Impact - The layoffs will be permanent and will affect various positions including warehouse associates, operations managers, and ARO coordinators [2][3] - Affected employees will receive information on severance and transfer opportunities, but they do not have bumping rights and are not union-represented [3] Automation and Efficiency - Macy's is expanding automation in its operations, highlighted by the recent opening of a new distribution center in China Grove, North Carolina, which boasts the largest storage capacity and highest productivity potential in the network [4][5] - The company has been refining its automation processes over the past two years to improve operational efficiency and safety for employees [5]

Core Viewpoint - Myriad Uranium Corp. announces the expiration of the letter of intent for a proposed merger with Rush Rare Metals Corp., but both parties remain in contact to explore a mutually acceptable agreement [1][2]. Company Overview - Myriad Uranium Corp. is a uranium exploration company with a 75% interest in the Copper Mountain Uranium Project located in Wyoming, USA [2]. - The Copper Mountain project has a history of significant exploration, including 2,000 boreholes drilled and an estimated historical resource value from Union Pacific's investment of C$117 million (2024 dollars) [2]. - The company has also acquired a 100% interest in the Red Basin Uranium Project in New Mexico, which shows extensive near-surface uranium mineralization and significant exploration potential [2].

Core Insights - Retailers are intensifying marketing efforts and sales events to attract consumers during the holiday season amid economic uncertainty and slowing consumer spending [1] - JCPenney is launching a new apparel collection in partnership with iHeartRadio, aiming to boost brand awareness and sales [2][5] - JCPenney's marketing strategies are showing positive results, with increased traffic and engagement from younger shoppers [7][8][11] Retail Industry Trends - The retail industry is facing challenges due to economic conditions, leading to increased competition among brands [1] - Brands are focusing on major sales events to cater to value-conscious consumers [1] JCPenney's Strategies - JCPenney is debuting a 29-piece apparel collection linked to the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball, enhancing its holiday offerings [2][5] - The retailer is implementing various promotional strategies, including Black Friday Early Access and Daily Deals [5] - JCPenney's marketing investments have resulted in increased customer trip frequency and growth in specific segments like Beauty and Home [7] Target Audience and Market Position - JCPenney is successfully attracting younger consumers, which is crucial for its cultural relevance and sustainable growth [8] - Recent marketing campaigns have significantly increased ad awareness and interest among Gen Z [9] Financial Recovery and Challenges - JCPenney has made progress since emerging from bankruptcy, although it continues to face challenges with a shrinking store footprint [12][14] - The company secured $450 million in financing during its restructuring and was acquired for $1.75 billion [13] Macy's Competitive Landscape - Macy's is known for its iconic events that blend retail and entertainment, although it faces its own set of challenges [10][16] - Despite a decline in net sales, Macy's stock has seen a year-to-date increase of over 15% [19]