Group 1 - Target Corp (TGT) will end its shop-in-shop partnership with Ulta Beauty (ULTA) in 2026, leading to a 1.5% decline in stock price to $103.83, with support at the $100 level [1] - Year-to-date, Target's stock is down 23.3%, indicating a need for a post-earnings rebound to escape consolidation [1] - Target is set to report second-quarter earnings on August 20, with expectations of declines in both earnings and revenue year-over-year [4] Group 2 - Target's stock has experienced three consecutive post-earnings declines, including a significant 21.4% drop in November [4] - The stock's options market is pricing in a potential move of 10.9% following the earnings report, regardless of direction [4] - Recent downgrades include a shift to "underperform" from "neutral" by Edgewater Research, while Truist raised its price target to $17 but maintained a "hold" rating [5] Group 3 - The consensus 12-month price target for Target is $105.68, representing a slim 1.8% premium to current levels, suggesting potential for downgrades or price-target cuts [6] - In the options market, puts have gained popularity, with a 50-day put/call volume ratio of 0.94, ranking higher than 90% of readings from the past year [7]

Group 1 - Western Alliance Bancorporation is approaching the $100 billion asset mark, driven by six deposit initiatives that are at an "inflection point" [1][2] - Analyst Anthony Elian from JPMorgan has maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $92 to $100, anticipating stronger net interest income in 2025 [1][2] - The company's growth outlook is considered attractive, with expectations of continued net interest income growth fueled by balance sheet growth momentum [2][3] Group 2 - The digital asset segment is highlighted as a key focus area following the enactment of the GENIUS Act, which may impact the company's strategic direction [3] - If the proposed rules around Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity (TLAC) are fully implemented, it could be more beneficial for the company than the removal of Large Financial Institution (LFI) rules [3] - The historical balance sheet growth rate of over 20% may not be sustained if the $100 billion threshold is lifted or eliminated [4]

At a investor presentation in New York City in March, CEO Brian Cornell highlighted beauty as a growth category for Target and cited it as reason for confidence in Target's long-term business. He said the company gained market share in the beauty and its sales in the category rose by nearly 7% in the fiscal year that ended in early February. Target has added new brands to its beauty department. At a growing number of stores, it also has mini Ulta Beauty shops with prestige brands. Ulta Beauty and Target sai ...

Target and Ulta will be ending their in-store partnership, concluding a popular offering that has drawn shoppers interested in trendy beauty products to the big-box retailer https://t.co/zgZJM0Cn7K ...

Truist Securities将塔吉特的目标价从90美元上调至107美元，维持"持有"评级。(格隆汇) ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes that quality stocks, particularly dividend-paying ones, can be attractive investment opportunities when they are undervalued in the market [1][2]. Group 1: Merck - Merck's revenue is heavily reliant on its cancer drug Keytruda, which accounts for 50% of total revenue, and faces patent expirations in the U.S. by 2028 and in Europe by 2031, contributing to a 39% decline in stock price from last year's peak [3][6]. - Despite current challenges, Merck has a promising pipeline with up to 20 drugs that could collectively generate over $50 billion in annual sales by the mid-2030s [5][6]. - The stock is currently priced at less than 9 times expected earnings, with a dividend yield of 4%, indicating that challenges are already reflected in the stock price [7]. Group 2: Target - Target has struggled with a 3.8% decline in same-store sales and a 60% drop in stock price since late 2021, largely due to economic conditions and internal controversies [8][12]. - There are signs of potential economic recovery, with a slight increase in consumer confidence and GDP growth estimates, which could benefit Target's sales [9][12]. - The stock is priced at about 14 times expected earnings, with a forward-looking dividend yield of 4.3%, suggesting a reasonable risk-reward profile for investors [12]. Group 3: PepsiCo - PepsiCo has experienced a 26% decline in stock price since its 2023 high, but this downturn may have reached its limit [13]. - The company faces challenges from rising costs in its beverage and food segments, but it is adapting by introducing healthier product options and optimizing its supply chain [14][16]. - PepsiCo is well-positioned to benefit from a potential resurgence in consumer spending and the growing trend towards healthy snacks [16].

Core Viewpoint - Snap Inc. shares have significantly declined, approaching 52-week lows following the announcement of Q2 earnings, which met revenue expectations but fell short on earnings [1] Financial Performance - Q2 earnings were in line with revenue expectations but missed on earnings [1] - The company's stock performance is lagging compared to other social media platforms [1]

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates a year-over-year decline in Target's earnings due to lower revenues, with a focus on how actual results compare to estimates to influence stock price [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - Target is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.04 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 20.6% [3]. - Revenue projections stand at $24.87 billion, which is a 2.3% decline from the same quarter last year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 0.11% over the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - A positive Earnings ESP of +1.81% suggests recent bullish sentiment among analysts regarding Target's earnings prospects, despite a Zacks Rank of 4 indicating a less favorable outlook [12]. Earnings Surprise History - In the last reported quarter, Target was expected to post earnings of $1.62 per share but only achieved $1.30, resulting in a surprise of -19.75% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, Target has beaten consensus EPS estimates twice [14]. Conclusion - Target does not appear to be a strong candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider additional factors when making decisions regarding the stock ahead of the earnings release [17].

Core Viewpoint - The announcement by Amazon regarding same-day delivery of fresh groceries has negatively impacted the stock prices of several major U.S. retailers, indicating increased competition in the grocery sector [1] Group 1: Stock Price Movements - Kroger's stock (KR.US) fell nearly 5% [1] - Walmart's stock (WMT.US) declined over 2% [1] - Costco's stock (COST.US) and Target's stock (TGT.US) both dropped over 1% [1] Group 2: Amazon's Service Expansion - Amazon has launched a same-day delivery service for fresh groceries, covering over 1,000 cities [1] - The company plans to expand this service to over 2,300 cities in the U.S. by the end of the year [1] - Customers can order a variety of fresh products, including produce, dairy, meat, seafood, baked goods, and frozen foods, alongside other items available for same-day delivery [1]

Many Target shoppers are frustrated with the retailer. Many Target employees are too. https://t.co/XyZKw1OFQj ...