Economic Context - Consumers are shifting their spending focus from discretionary items to essential needs due to economic concerns, with many accepting elevated prices as the new normal [1][2] - Nearly half of U.S. consumers identified inflation as a top concern, although worries about rising prices have decreased by seven percentage points compared to the previous year [2] Consumer Behavior - 50% of consumers plan to delay purchases in discretionary categories such as electronics, accessories, and dining out [3] - Lower-income consumers are particularly affected by high prices on essentials and are worried about tariff-related price increases [3] Company Actions - Yankee Candle, owned by Newell Brands, is implementing a global productivity plan that includes reducing its workforce by over 900 employees, approximately 10% of its professional and clerical staff [5][6] - The company will close about 20 underperforming stores in the U.S. and Canada, which represent roughly 1% of brand sales, with closures expected to take effect in January 2026 [7] Financial Impact - Newell Brands anticipates pre-tax restructuring charges of approximately $75 million to $90 million, primarily for severance costs, with most charges recognized by the end of 2026 [7] - The productivity plan is expected to generate annualized pre-tax cost savings of approximately $110 million to $130 million once fully implemented [7] Company Performance - Newell's third-quarter results indicated challenges, with the company holding $4.8 billion in outstanding debt [12] - Yankee Candle's net sales were reported at $1.8 billion, a decline of 7.2% compared to the prior year, with core sales down 7.4% [11] - Gross margin decreased to 34.1% from 34.9% in the prior year, while operating margin improved to 6.6% from negative 6.2% [11]

Core Insights - During market turbulence, investors often seek dividend-yielding stocks, which typically have high free cash flows and offer substantial dividends [1] Group 1: Newell Brands Inc (NASDAQ:NWL) - Newell Brands has a dividend yield of 7.71% [5] - Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey maintained an Equal-Weight rating and increased the price target from $5 to $6 on July 9, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 60% [5] - Barclays analyst Lauren Lieberman maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $8 to $9 on May 2, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 61% [5] - Recent news indicates that Newell Brands plans to reduce its global workforce by over 900 employees as part of a global productivity plan [5] Group 2: Wendy's Co (WEN) - Wendy's has a dividend yield of 6.76% [5] - JP Morgan analyst John Ivankoe downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral and cut the price target from $12 to $9 on Dec. 3, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 71% [5] - Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull maintained a Hold rating and reduced the price target from $12 to $11 on Oct. 31, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 70% [5] - The company reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 24 cents, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of 20 cents on Nov. 7 [5] Group 3: Oxford Industries Inc (NYSE:OXM) - Oxford Industries has a dividend yield of 7.08% [5] - Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey maintained a Market Perform rating with a price target of $52 on Dec. 5, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 63% [5] - Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez upgraded the stock from Sell to Neutral and lowered the price target from $44 to $35 on Nov. 25, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 65% [5] - Recent news shows that Oxford Industries reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and raised its FY25 EPS guidance above estimates on Sept. 10 [5]

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a high dividend payout.Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting Analyst Stock Ratings page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including by analyst accuracy.Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yield ...

Its parent company, Newell Brands, has announced that it will lay off over 900 employees worldwide—about 10% of its professional and clerical workforce. Candles and lights are typically a festive part of the holiday season but, this year, Yankee Candle has little reason to celebrate. Some Yankee Candle stores will shutter by January 2026 Newell Brands is also closing approximately 20 Yankee Candle stores across the U.S. and Canada. According to Newell Brands, these stores make up about 1% of Yankee Candle's ...

Core Insights - Newell Brands has announced a new productivity plan that includes a reduction of 10% of professional clerical employees, indicating a strategic shift in response to current organizational needs [3]. Group 1: Strategic Rationale - The timing of the productivity plan suggests that the company is addressing ongoing restructuring efforts and aims to enhance operational efficiency [3]. - The leadership is expected to provide insights into the origins of this plan and how it aligns with the company's broader organizational changes [3]. Group 2: Leadership Engagement - Chris Peterson, President and CEO of Newell Brands, and Mark Erceg, CFO, are actively participating in discussions regarding the company's strategic direction and financial health [2].

Core Insights - Global sales experienced a decline of 10% year-on-year in November, indicating a challenging market environment for the company [1] - Despite the overall sales drop, the company expressed optimism due to the growth in electric-car sales and increased deliveries of long-range plug-in hybrids in China [1] Sales Performance - The company reported a 10% decrease in global sales compared to the same month last year [1] - The decline in sales suggests potential challenges in the broader automotive market [1] Electric Vehicle Segment - The company highlighted encouraging growth in its electric-car sales, which may indicate a shift in consumer preferences towards more sustainable vehicle options [1] - The increase in electric-car sales could provide a strategic advantage in the evolving automotive landscape [1] Hybrid Vehicle Deliveries - Accelerated deliveries of long-range plug-in hybrids in China were noted as a positive development, reflecting the company's efforts to adapt to market demands [1] - This growth in hybrid vehicle deliveries may help mitigate some of the impacts from the overall sales decline [1]

Newell Brands (NasdaqGS:NWL) 2025 Conference December 02, 2025 03:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsMark Erceg - CFOChris Peterson - President and CEOConference Call ParticipantsDara Mohsenian - AnalystDara MohsenianHi, good afternoon, everyone. I'm Dara Mohsenian, Morgan Stanley's household products and beverage analyst. Just before we begin, a quick disclosure: please see the Morgan Stanley Research website at www.morganstanley.com for our research disclosures. And if you have any questions, you can reach out ...

This is supposed to be the time of year when retailers are filling their coffers. During November and December, a typical retailer bring in around 19% of their annual revenue, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) Winter Holiday Forecast. But economic challenges across the retail landscape have forced retailers to make difficult decisions. Increased labor costs and rent, plus higher cost of goods, coupled with uncertainty around tariffs, has forced many well-known legacy brands to close their ...

Core Insights - Newell Brands Inc. (NWL) is implementing a global productivity plan aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, profitability, and long-term competitiveness through disciplined execution of productivity, simplification, and innovation initiatives [1][9] Workforce Reduction - The company plans to reduce its global workforce by over 900 employees, which constitutes nearly 10% of its professional and clerical staff, with limited impact on manufacturing or supply-chain functions [2] - Professional and clerical separations in the United States are expected to occur within the current month, with similar efforts continuing internationally through 2026, subject to local laws [2] Productivity Plan Details - The productivity plan is designed to elevate performance standards, streamline processes, optimize overheads, and redirect resources to high-value operations, leveraging automation, digitization, and Artificial Intelligence [3][7] - Newell will close approximately 20 Yankee Candle stores in the U.S. and Canada, representing about 1% of brand sales, to align with modern shopping patterns and enhance its multi-channel growth strategy [4] Financial Implications - Management anticipates pre-tax restructuring and related charges of approximately $75-$90 million, primarily for severance costs, most of which will be recognized by the end of 2026 [5] - Once fully executed, the productivity plan is expected to generate annualized pre-tax cost savings of $110-$130 million [5] Sales Guidance - Newell has reaffirmed its guidance for fourth-quarter 2025 normalized operating margin, earnings per share, and operating cash flow, while expecting net and core sales to be at the lower end of the previously issued guidance range due to slower-than-anticipated sales trends in Latin America [6]

Core Insights - NUK® is expanding its Perfect Match™ product line to support natural feeding transitions and help babies learn to drink independently, building on over 70 years of expertise in baby care [1][2][3] Product Innovations - The new products in the Perfect Match line include the Perfect Match Air Pacifier, Perfect Match Learner Cup, and Perfect Match Straw Cup, all designed to guide babies through key developmental milestones [3][4][5] - The Perfect Match Air Pacifier features a breathable shield and a soft nipple that is gentle on teeth and gums, promoting natural oral development [7] - The Perfect Match Learner Cup is designed to be leak-proof, providing stress-free sipping for babies [4][7] - The Perfect Match Straw Cup includes a soft, flexible straw made from BPA-free silicone, ensuring comfort for gums and preventing spills [5][7] Availability and Pricing - The new products are available at major retailers such as Amazon and Walmart, with prices ranging from $6.99 to $16.99 depending on the product [6]