Core Insights - Barington Companies Management, LLC initiated a new position in Bath & Body Works, acquiring 125,000 shares valued at $3.22 million, representing 2.42% of its total reportable assets of $133.17 million as of September 30, 2025 [2][3] Company Overview - Bath & Body Works, Inc. operates 1,755 company-owned retail stores and has a significant online presence, focusing on strong brand recognition and a robust product pipeline to maintain customer loyalty [5] - The company generates revenue primarily from direct retail sales in the U.S. and Canada, supplemented by international licensing and wholesale arrangements [8] - As of November 12, 2025, Bath & Body Works reported a revenue of $7.37 billion and a net income of $699 million, with a dividend yield of 3.57% [3] Investment Position - Barington's investment in Bath & Body Works is relatively small at 2.42% of its assets under management, which is notable given the fund's concentrated portfolio of only 12 stocks [9][10] - The stock has experienced a one-year total return of -27.15%, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 41.22 percentage points [7] - The P/E ratio of Bath & Body Works was 7 at the time of the filing, which may have attracted Barington to this investment [11] Market Performance - As of November 12, 2025, Bath & Body Works shares were priced at $22.40, with a market cap of $4 billion [12] - The stock has been on a downward trajectory since February, and it may take time for Barington to see positive returns on this investment [10][13]

Market Overview - The stock market is experiencing a downturn, with the Dow down approximately 0.8% or over 360 points, while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are both down around 0.5% [1][2] - The Bank of Japan's hints at raising interest rates have led to a rise in US rates, with the 10-year Treasury yield up 8 basis points to 4.09% and the 30-year yield similarly up to 4.74% [2][3] Sector Performance - Energy is the only sector showing gains, up more than 1%, while utilities, which are sensitive to interest rates, are the biggest losers [5][6] - The Russell 2000, representing small-cap stocks, is down 1%, reversing recent outperformance [4][5] - In the tech-heavy NASDAQ 100, Nvidia and Apple are up about 1%, but Broadcom is down about 4% [7][8] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin is under pressure, trading around $85,000, down from a peak of over $92,000, marking a 9% decline since the start of the year [9][10] - Bitcoin ETFs have experienced their worst monthly outflows on record, contributing to the selloff [11] - Concerns over the Japanese yen have previously led to significant drops in Bitcoin prices, indicating potential volatility ahead [12] Consumer Behavior and Retail - The holiday shopping season is underway, with strong Black Friday sales, but consumer confidence remains low [33][34] - Bath & Body Works reported upbeat sales driven by aggressive promotions, indicating a potential recovery after a lackluster third quarter [62][63] - E-commerce trends are relatively strong, with growth expected in the upper single digits, particularly benefiting major players like Amazon and Walmart [105][106] AI and Technology Sector - AI is projected to contribute at least half a percentage point to annual growth, with significant spending in data centers expected to support economic growth [72][73] - The demand for AI chips, particularly GPUs, is anticipated to remain strong through 2026, with Nvidia expected to maintain a dominant market position [42][43] - Concerns about the sustainability of AI valuations are present, with expectations for execution on new programs being critical for maintaining investor confidence [49][50] Company-Specific Insights - Disney's "Zootopia 2" has performed well at the box office, grossing $156 million in North America and $556 million globally, marking a significant win for the company [54][56] - Toast has been upgraded to outperform by BMP Paribas, indicating optimism about its growth potential in the restaurant software market [58][60] - Tesla faces scrutiny over its valuation and market share, particularly in Europe, where sales have declined amid increasing competition [88][95]

All right, as Steve mentioned, Dana Telsey's here. It is Black Friday on a much cheerier. Shoppers are hunting for the best deals.Joining us right now is Dana Telsey, Tel Advisory Group CEO and chief research manager. And Dana, I would guess it's a little tougher to know exactly what's happening on Black Friday morning than it used to be. So many of the retailers actually close on Thursdays now instead of staying open that entire time.you're trying to figure out what's happening on from the cyber perspectiv ...