Core Insights - Target Corporation is expanding its wellness assortment by 30% in 2026, introducing thousands of new items and more exclusive products to enhance its position as a destination for everyday wellbeing [1][5] Product Expansion - The wellness expansion is based on guest insights and cultural trends across various categories including food & beverage, baby, beauty, health, and apparel [3] - New products will be introduced in 2026 across owned brands and exclusive partnerships, as well as in categories like sporting goods and wearable tech [3] Accessibility and Affordability - Target aims to provide high-quality wellness products at great prices, with thousands of items priced under $10 [4][5] - Target Wellness Week, running until January 10, offers additional savings on wellness brands and personalized deals for Target Circle 360 members [4] Unique Wellness Experience - The wellness experience includes new ways for guests to discover products both in-store and online, with a focus on personalized shopping experiences [5][7] - The expanded assortment includes exclusive retail debuts and new options in protein snacks, supplements, functional beverages, family wellness products, skincare, and performance-ready apparel [6] Marketing and Engagement - Target is launching a new marketing campaign titled "Wellness, Perfectly Picked for You," which highlights new brands and exclusive products tailored to guests' lifestyles [8] - The company will host in-store wellness events featuring product sampling and giveaways on specific dates in January [8]

To me, there's always been a huge difference between going to a store like Target versus Walmart. Walmart is the store you go to when you need budget groceries or socks. Target is the store you go to when you need a cute lamp for your new apartment, or a creative gift for your best friend's daughter's birthday party. In fact, I've never really thought of Target as a money-saving destination. To me, the appeal has always centered on a wide selection of cool inventory, and less so on affordability. Just ...

Core Insights - Target Corporation's capital allocation strategy balances future growth investments with financial resilience, demonstrating disciplined cash flow management and prioritizing returns [1][5] Financial Performance - For the first nine months of fiscal 2025, Target generated operating cash flow of $3,485 million, indicating effective inventory management and reduced working capital pressures [2] - Capital expenditures reached $2,842 million during the same period, focusing on high-return initiatives such as store remodels and technology modernization [3] - Target plans to increase capital spending to approximately $5 billion in fiscal 2026 to support extensive category resets and store transformation efforts [3] Shareholder Returns - Target returned $518 million to shareholders through dividends and $152 million in share repurchases in the past nine months of fiscal 2025, reflecting confidence in cash flow durability [4] - The company maintains a strong balance sheet with $3,822 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of the third quarter [5] Market Position and Valuation - Target's stock has gained 13% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 3% [12] - The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio for Target is 13.06, significantly lower than the industry's average of 29.45 [13] - Earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 indicate a year-over-year decline of 17.7%, while fiscal 2026 estimates suggest a growth of 6% [14]

Group 1: Target - Target has struggled in the retail sector due to over-purchasing inventory during supply chain issues and involvement in political activities, leading to alienation of customers [3][4] - The stock has a P/E ratio of 12, indicating that its challenges may already be priced in, and analysts expect revenue growth to return in 2026 as the company makes strategic changes [4][5] - Target is a Dividend King with 54 consecutive years of dividend increases, currently offering a yield of 4.6%, which is significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.1% [7][8] Group 2: Sea Limited - Sea Limited operates in Southeast Asia, with its main revenue driver being Shopee, the e-commerce leader in the region, alongside its fintech and gaming segments [9][10] - The stock has declined by approximately 35% since its September high due to competitive pressures, but analysts forecast a 33% revenue growth for the year, with a potential slowdown to 24% in 2026 [11][13] - The stock's forward P/E ratio of 37 appears reasonable given its growth potential, suggesting a strong position for future growth [13][14] Group 3: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk has gained popularity among digital advertisers but faced a sell-off after missing revenue estimates in Q4 2024 and concerns about competition from larger advertisers [15][16] - Analysts project an 18% revenue growth for 2025, with the company showing a 20% revenue increase in the first nine months of 2025, indicating potential for exceeding expectations [17] - The stock has fallen over two-thirds from its previous highs, with a current trailing P/E of 43 and a forward P/E of 21, suggesting it may be oversold and poised for a rebound [18][19]

Core Insights - Retail investors have shown significant interest in five stocks this week, driven by retail hype, AI advancements, and corporate news [1] Group 1: Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) - Target was highlighted after activist investor Toms Capital Investment Management acquired a significant stake, which is seen as a potential catalyst for operational changes [5] - The stock is trading around $97 to $99 per share, with a 52-week range of $83.44 to $145.08, and has declined by 28.75% in 2025 and 7.30% in the last six months [6] Group 2: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM) - Retail investors are bullish on TSM ahead of its earnings release later this month [4] Group 3: Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) - GOOG is trading around $303 to $305 per share, with a 52-week range of $134.25 to $313.98, and has returned 50.75% in 2025 and 30.09% in the last six months [10] - The stock has shown strong performance driven by AI advancements, cloud growth, and progress in Waymo, outperforming its peers [10] Group 4: IREN Ltd. (NASDAQ:IREN) - IREN gained attention due to discussions about using Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for cryptocurrency mining, which could impact U.S. bitcoin production [16] - The stock is trading around $36 to $38 per share, with a 52-week range of $5.12 to $76.87, and has risen 261.09% in 2025 [17] Group 5: Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) - MSTR announced the purchase of 1,229 Bitcoin for approximately $108.8 million, increasing its holdings to 672,497 BTC [17] - The stock is trading around $150 to $152 per share, with a 52-week range of $151.42 to $457.22, and has declined by 49.35% in 2025 [19] Group 6: Market Context - The retail focus has combined meme-driven narratives with earnings outlooks and corporate news, amidst negative market action in the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq [18]

Core Viewpoint - Retail investors are actively discussing five notable stocks driven by retail enthusiasm, AI developments, and corporate news, including Target Corp., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Alphabet Inc., IREN Ltd., and Strategy Inc. [1] Group 1: Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) - Target was highlighted after activist investor Toms Capital Investment Management acquired a significant stake, which investors viewed as a potential catalyst for operational changes to unlock long-term value [5] - Target reaffirmed its commitment to improving its merchandise and shopping experience, indicating a focus on returning to growth [5] - The stock had a 52-week range of $83.44 to $145.08, trading around $97 to $99 per share, with a decline of 28.75% in 2025 and 7.30% in the last six months [6] Group 2: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM) - Retail investors expressed bullish sentiment ahead of TSM's earnings release later in the month [4] Group 3: Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) - Alphabet's stock had a 52-week range of $134.25 to $313.98, trading around $303 to $305 per share, with a return of 50.75% in 2025 and 30.09% in the last six months [10] - The stock showed strong performance among its peers, driven by advancements in AI, cloud growth, and progress in Waymo [10] Group 4: IREN Ltd. (NASDAQ:IREN) - IREN gained attention due to discussions about using Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for cryptocurrency mining, which could impact U.S. bitcoin production [16] - The stock had a 52-week range of $5.12 to $76.87, trading around $36 to $38 per share, with a significant rise of 261.09% in 2025 [17] Group 5: Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) - MSTR announced the purchase of 1,229 Bitcoin for approximately $108.8 million, increasing its holdings to 672,497 BTC [17] - Retail investors were cautious about investing in MSTR following its performance in 2025 [17] Group 6: Market Context - The retail focus combined meme-driven narratives with earnings outlooks and corporate news, as major indices like the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq experienced negative market action, missing the Santa Claus rally [18]

Core Viewpoint - Micron Technology is experiencing a significant surge in stock price due to increased demand for AI-driven memory solutions, with Bernstein raising its price target for the company [1][6]. Company Performance - Micron's stock closed at $315.42, reflecting a 10.52% increase in a single trading session, with trading volume reaching 41.9 million shares, which is 62% above the three-month average [2][3]. - The company has shown remarkable growth of 22,231% since its IPO in 1984 [3]. Market Dynamics - The rise in Micron's stock is attributed to analyst upgrades based on the anticipated demand for high-bandwidth memory, which is crucial for AI applications [3][6]. - Industry peers such as Seagate Technology and Western Digital also saw stock increases, indicating a broader market reaction to AI data-center expansions and global memory supply shortages [5]. Future Outlook - Micron's leadership indicated that the total addressable market for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) is projected to reach $100 billion by 2028, two years earlier than previously estimated [7]. - Bernstein forecasts continued growth in DRAM demand, suggesting a positive outlook for Micron's future performance [7].

Core Viewpoint - Altria's high dividend yield of 7.3% may not be as attractive as Target's 4.5% yield due to Altria's significant business struggles, particularly in its core tobacco segment [2][14]. Altria Overview - Altria's primary business is smokable tobacco products, which account for nearly 90% of its revenue, with cigarettes making up 97% of its volume [4]. - Cigarette volumes fell 8.2% year over year in Q3 2025, with Marlboro, which represents 85% of Altria's cigarette volume, experiencing an 11.7% decline [5]. - Altria has faced long-term declines in cigarette sales as smoking becomes less popular and alternatives like vaping gain traction [5]. - The company has struggled to adapt to industry changes, with previous investments in vapes and marijuana resulting in significant losses [7]. - Altria's current dividend yield of 7.21% comes with a high payout ratio of nearly 80%, raising concerns about sustainability [7][15]. Target Overview - Target's current market approach is misaligned with consumer trends, focusing on a premium shopping experience while consumers are tightening budgets [9]. - Same-store sales for Target fell 2.7% in Q3 2025, with overall sales down by 1.5%, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences towards lower-priced options [10]. - Despite these challenges, Target's situation is not seen as an existential threat, as fluctuations in consumer behavior are common in the retail sector [12]. - Target's management is actively working to realign its strategy, including appointing a new CEO and adopting a team-based approach [13]. - Target's dividend yield of 4.5% is supported by a lower payout ratio of approximately 55%, providing more flexibility in adverse conditions [15].

Core Viewpoint - Target has faced significant challenges over the past year, with a notable decline in stock performance, but the involvement of activist investor Toms Capital Investment Management may lead to potential growth and strategic changes for the retailer [1][2][4]. Financial Performance - Target's stock is currently down more than 27% over the past year and over 40% in the past five years [1]. - The company's third-quarter earnings showed a 1.5% year-over-year decline in net sales, while digital sales increased by 2.4% [5]. - Target maintains a strong dividend history, having raised its dividend for 54 consecutive years [5]. Market Position - Target's current market capitalization is $44 billion, with a stock price of $97.75 and a forward price-to-earnings ratio of around 12, which is significantly lower than competitors like Walmart and Amazon [2][4]. - The company's gross margin stands at 25.36%, and it offers a dividend yield of 4.62% [2]. Strategic Initiatives - Target is expanding its same-day delivery operations, which saw a 35% increase in the latest quarter, to better compete with industry peers [5]. - The company plans to invest $5 billion in capital expenditures aimed at driving growth by 2026 [5]. Investor Influence - The increased stake by Toms Capital Investment Management adds pressure on Target, potentially leading to management and strategic changes that could benefit the company's stock performance [2][4].

Happy New Year, from all your friends at Fortune. As you know, New Year’s Day has fallen on a Thursday for 2026, which means banks, government offices, and postal services will be closed across North America while many retailers, restaurants, and attractions will either modify their schedules or open up completely.​The most direct impact is on federal services. Non-essential federal offices are closed, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. This includes Social Security Administration field o ...