Continue Reading Photography by David Land. The style icon designs her new home entirely through Perigold, marking a new chapter in the evolution of luxury shopping online BOSTON, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Perigold, the destination for luxury home, today announced its first major brand collaboration with global style authority and entrepreneur Olivia Palermo. The collaboration solidifies Perigold's position at the intersection of fashion, home, and premium design, introducing a new audience of design-min ...

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Wayfair (W) , which belongs to the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry.When looking at the last two reports, this online home goods retailer has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 96.92%, on average, in the last two quarters.For the last reported quarter, Wayfair came out with earnings of $0.7 per sha ...

Core Insights - The global e-commerce landscape is rapidly evolving, with cross-border e-commerce significantly altering international trade dynamics, presenting both challenges and opportunities for businesses and consumers [1] Group 1: Policy Environment - The policy environment is a crucial external factor affecting cross-border e-commerce, with varying regulations across countries creating both challenges and opportunities for enterprises [3] - In Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, 63% of consumers prefer purchasing New Year goods through e-commerce platforms, highlighting the market's growth potential [4] - Amazon has upgraded compliance requirements, increasing the on-time delivery compliance rate to 95%, which raises expectations for supplier efficiency [5][6] Group 2: Market Trends - The U.S. has become the largest online market for Korean cosmetics, holding a 51% global share, indicating a significant opportunity for cross-border e-commerce businesses to enhance procurement and marketing strategies [7] - eBay UK has adjusted customer service channels, which may impact consumer communication with the platform, while also launching a climate transition plan aiming for net-zero emissions by 2045 [7] Group 3: Logistics Challenges - Logistics remains a critical aspect of cross-border e-commerce, with long distances and multiple stages leading to high costs and delays, particularly during special circumstances like the pandemic [15] - Companies are exploring new logistics models, such as overseas warehouses, to improve delivery times and customer satisfaction [15] Group 4: Technological Innovation - Technological advancements, including AI, big data, and blockchain, are transforming cross-border e-commerce operations, enhancing customer service and operational efficiency [17][19] - AI technologies are increasingly used for smart customer service and personalized shopping experiences, while big data helps businesses understand consumer needs and market trends [17][19]

Core Insights - Wayfair is making a significant investment in artificial intelligence to enhance the online shopping experience for home goods, partnering with Google to develop the Universal Commerce Protocol [1][4] - The new protocol will enable a seamless checkout experience, allowing customers to purchase Wayfair products directly through Google's AI Mode and the Gemini app while maintaining Wayfair's control over pricing and customer support [2][4] - Wayfair's existing AI initiatives, such as the Muse discovery tool and the Discover tab in its mobile app, aim to improve product navigation for customers, reflecting the company's focus on personalization in a high-consideration purchase category [3][5] Financial Performance - Wayfair reported a 9% increase in revenue and over 70% year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter, indicating that its investments in technology are yielding positive results [5]

Core Insights - Wayfair is collaborating with Google on the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) to enhance the shopping experience by allowing customers to check out directly from Wayfair while using Google [1][2] - The new checkout experience will be available on eligible Google product listings in AI Mode and the Gemini app, with Wayfair acting as the merchant of record to ensure consistent pricing and customer support [2][5] - Wayfair is also working with other retailers to establish standards for AI-driven shopping experiences, aiming to connect customers with trusted merchants [3][5] Company Strategy - Wayfair is investing in AI-powered discovery across various platforms, including its own app and external AI platforms, to enhance customer engagement [4] - The company views the Universal Commerce Protocol as a foundational element for a new shopping ecosystem, facilitating a seamless transition from product discovery to checkout [4] - Wayfair's initiatives include consumer-facing AI tools like Decorify and Muse, which help customers visualize home design, and a new Discover tab in its app featuring AI-curated content [4] Industry Collaboration - The UCP was developed in collaboration with major retailers including Shopify, Etsy, Target, and Walmart, indicating a collective effort to standardize agentic commerce [5]

Core Insights - Wayfair Inc. is a foundational partner in developing Google's Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), aimed at enhancing interactions between AI agents and retail platforms [1][4] - The company is investing in AI-powered discovery across its app and external platforms to improve customer shopping experiences [2] Group 1: Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) - UCP will enable a new checkout experience on Google product listings, allowing customers to complete purchases directly from Wayfair while researching on Google [3] - Wayfair will maintain its role as the merchant of record, ensuring consistent pricing, fulfillment, and customer support during these transactions [3] Group 2: Technology and Customer Experience - Wayfair is focused on creating a confident online shopping experience for customers, with millions of products available across various styles and price points [2] - The company is piloting its Muse tool and launching a Discover tab in its app to enhance product discovery and personalization for users [2]

Group 1 - Barclays analyst Seth Sigman upgraded Wayfair (W) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $123, up from $104 [1] - The company's market share accelerated in 2025 and is expected to continue this trend in 2026 [1] - Gains are driven by Wayfair's technology "replatforming," loyalty initiatives, and marketing changes [1] Group 2 - Wayfair's exposure to middle-income consumers positions it to benefit from tax refunds this year [1]

Alcohol Industry Insights - 54% of Americans drink alcohol, marking an all-time low compared to 68%-71% in the 1970s and early 80s, raising questions about whether this is a secular trend or a phase, particularly among Gen Z [1] - Alcohol consumption has historically fluctuated due to health concerns, with companies like Brown-Forman and Diageo experiencing new 52-week lows, indicating a decline in alcohol consumption [2][4] - The average number of drinks per adult per week in the U.S. has remained stable between 10 and 12 for decades, only slightly below its 2021 peak, suggesting that regular drinkers maintain their consumption patterns despite market softness [10] Demographic Trends - From 2023 to 2025, the share of drinkers in households earning less than $40,000 fell by 14 percentage points to 39%, indicating affordability issues may be influencing drinking habits [7][8] - The decline in drinking among higher-income households may be attributed to health concerns or a reset of drinking norms after excessive consumption during COVID [9] Company Performance: Brown-Forman - Brown-Forman has faced challenges, including a 5% decline in sales and a 14% drop in earnings per share in Q2 2026, with expectations of low single-digit declines for the remainder of the year [21] - Analysts project Brown-Forman to earn $1.65 per share in 2026, trading at 15.4 times this estimate, with an enterprise value of $14.42 billion, indicating a more favorable valuation compared to Wayfair [22] Company Performance: Wayfair - Wayfair's stock has increased by 143% over the past 12 months, but the company has a poor history of profitability, with only six profitable quarters since going public in 2014 [13][16] - In Q3 2025, Wayfair reported a loss of $99 million, which is $25 million higher than the loss in Q3 2024, highlighting ongoing financial struggles [18] Investment Considerations - The comparison between Brown-Forman and Wayfair suggests that despite current challenges, Brown-Forman is viewed as a more stable investment due to its history of profitability and dividend payments, while Wayfair is seen as chasing an uncertain future [22]

Core Viewpoint - The article summarizes significant analyst rating changes that could impact market trends, highlighting upgrades, downgrades, and new coverage ratings for various companies [1][6]. Upgrades - Barclays upgraded Whirlpool (W) from "Neutral" to "Overweight," raising the target price from $104 to $123, citing accelerated market share growth expected in 2025 and continuation into 2026 [5]. - Oppenheimer upgraded McDonald's (MCD) from "Market Perform" to "Outperform," setting a target price of $355, with a more optimistic outlook for the restaurant sector in 2026 despite a poor performance in 2025 [5]. - Barclays upgraded Lowe's (LOW) from "Neutral" to "Overweight," increasing the target price from $259 to $285, based on an expected improvement in non-essential goods demand due to upcoming tax policy changes [5]. - Piper Sandler upgraded Hershey (HSY) from "Neutral" to "Overweight," raising the target price from $193 to $213, noting lower cocoa costs and the removal of cocoa tariffs, which provide flexibility for reinvestment and growth [5]. - Bank of America upgraded Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) from "Underperform" to "Buy," significantly raising the target price from $627 to $860, as previous concerns regarding Eylea SD have been addressed [5]. Downgrades - Jefferies downgraded First Solar (FSLR) from "Buy" to "Hold," lowering the target price from $269 to $260 due to limited visibility on orders and emerging strategic issues [10]. - Oppenheimer downgraded Yum Brands (YUM) from "Outperform" to "Market Perform," with no target price set, as the stock's risk-reward profile has become balanced after a 13% increase in 2025 [10]. - Montreal Bank Capital Markets downgraded Union Pacific Railroad (UNP) from "Outperform" to "Market Perform," reducing the target price from $270 to $255, citing high uncertainty regarding regulatory outcomes and weak freight demand [10]. - Piper Sandler downgraded Deckers Outdoor (DECK) from "Neutral" to "Underweight," lowering the target price from $100 to $85, as the company has increased discount promotions on its core brands [10]. - Wells Fargo downgraded Humana (HUM) from "Overweight" to "Neutral," setting a target price of $290, due to uncertainties regarding profit margin targets for 2026 [10]. New Coverage - Argus Research initiated coverage on grocery delivery platform Instacart (CART) with a "Buy" rating and a target price of $52, highlighting revenue growth and recent profitability achievements [11]. - Citigroup initiated coverage on Natera (NTRA) with a "Buy" rating and a target price of $300, citing significant growth potential [11]. - Link Consulting initiated coverage on Galecto (GLTO) with an "Outperform" rating and a target price of $46, noting its acquisition of Damola Therapeutics to advance its oncology pipeline [11]. - Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Apogee Therapeutics (APGE) with a "Market Perform" rating, without a target price, predicting mixed catalysts for the stock in 2026 [11]. - Mizuho Securities initiated coverage on Palvella Therapeutics (PVLA) with an "Outperform" rating and a target price of $205, based on positive clinical trial data for its drug Qtorin [11].

Group 1 - Wayfair's stock was upgraded by Barclays from equal weight to overweight, with a new price target raised from $104 to $123 due to improving market share [3] - The company's market share accelerated last year, and this positive trend is expected to continue into the current year [3] - Home goods stocks, including Wayfair, saw a rise of nearly 10% following President Trump's delay of furniture tariffs [4][6] Group 2 - Wayfair's stock has increased by 95% this year, breaking out on a major earnings beat [6] - The impact of new tariffs set for October 1 has been mixed, with some stocks soaring while others, like RH and Wayfair, experienced sell-offs [6]