Core Viewpoint - California's Attorney General is seeking a preliminary injunction against Amazon, alleging that the company engages in anti-competitive practices by pressuring merchants to inflate prices, thereby stifling price competition in the market [1]. Group 1: Allegations Against Amazon - The California AG claims that Amazon's actions aim to insulate itself from price competition by preventing lower retail prices from being available elsewhere [1]. - It is alleged that Amazon has pressured merchants to agree on fixed prices, ensuring that it is not undercut by competitors like eBay, Target, and Walmart [1]. - Merchants who do not comply with Amazon's pricing demands risk being cut off from access to Amazon's "Buy Box," which is crucial for sales on the platform [1]. Group 2: Legal Proceedings - A trial regarding the antitrust case against Amazon is scheduled for January 2027 [1]. - The proposed injunction seeks to halt Amazon's alleged anti-competitive conduct while the case is ongoing, with a monitor suggested to oversee compliance [1]. Group 3: Amazon's Defense - Amazon argues that its agreements with merchants are legal and pro-competitive, claiming they benefit consumers by enhancing product selection and competitive pricing [1].

The ongoing tech sell-off in the United States, ironically driven by the larger AI thematic itself, continues to define February CY26 thematics, and again overnight we saw International Business Machines, or IBM, drop a record amount – the steepest it’s ever dropped in one session.Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.I have already written earlier this month the tech trade is under pressure fr ...

Key Takeaways Walmart U.S. delivered 4.6% comp sales growth in Q4 and FY26, excluding fuel. Growth was driven by higher traffic, ticket gains, and strength in grocery and pharmacy. Management guides 3.5%-4.5% FY27 sales growth, testing sustainability of mid-single-digit comps.Walmart Inc. (WMT) ended fiscal 2026 with solid momentum in its Walmart U.S. segment, reporting fourth-quarter comp sales growth of 4.6%, excluding fuel. Fiscal 2026 also delivered 4.6% comp growth on an excluding fuel basis, following ...

COLUMBUS, Wis., Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mounting evidence suggests the U.S. economy is entering a more fragile and bifurcated phase, as major corporations, institutional investors, and market insiders signal rising concern over consumer strength, labor market stability, and equity valuations. Walmart, a company that has benefited from high-income consumers trading down during the recent difficult economy, has now raised concerns about what it calls a “hiring recession.” The unusual corporate use o ...

Thank you. Hello and welcome to the Morning Filter podcast. I'm Susan Jabinsky with Morning Star.Every Monday before market open, I sit down with Morning Star chief US market strategist Dave Sakara to talk about what investors should have on their radars for the week, some new Morning Star research, and a few stock ideas. All right. Well, grab your coffee because Dave and I have a lot of ground to cover this morning.Now, last Friday's Supreme Court ruling struck down some of the Trump administration's tarif ...

Core Insights - Amazon has surpassed Walmart to become the world's largest retailer by annual revenues, achieving $716.9 billion in 2025 compared to Walmart's $713.2 billion [1][10] - The shift highlights the importance of Amazon's technology ecosystem, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS), which generated nearly $129 billion in sales last year [4][10] - Amazon's advertising business has also become a significant growth driver, contributing over $60 billion annually [5][10] Investment Opportunities - Investors may find potential in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that include Amazon alongside other leading companies in retail and technology sectors [2][8] - Focusing on ETFs allows investors to mitigate company-specific risks associated with Amazon while still benefiting from its growth and market position [7][8] ETFs to Consider - Global X PureCap MSCI Consumer Discretionary ETF (GXPD) has a net asset value of $22.72 million, with Amazon holding a 33.74% weight [11] - Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR) has $6.3 billion in assets, with Amazon at 23.02% weight [12] - State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) manages $22.51 billion, with Amazon at 20.91% weight [13] - ProShares Online Retail ETF (ONLN) has an average market cap of $177.12 billion, with Amazon at 23.35% weight [15] - VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) has net assets of $264.8 million, with Amazon at 17.08% weight [16]

Core Insights - Edible Garden AG Incorporated has reported its 2025 sustainability results as part of Walmart's Project Gigaton, showcasing its commitment to reducing supply chain emissions and enhancing environmental efficiency [3][4] Sustainability Performance - The company achieved significant operational efficiencies, including the avoidance of 412,537 conventional refrigerated truck miles through co-loading and backhauling [5] - A reduction of 30,734 gallons in diesel fuel demand and conservation of 694 barrels of crude oil were noted [5] - Edible Garden recycled 1,890,000 gallons of water across its facilities, with a 95% reuse rate in Grand Rapids and 75% in Belvidere [5] - The company reduced 167 metric tons of food waste through donations and operational efficiencies, alongside recycling 70 metric tons of mixed recyclables [5] Commitment to Sustainability - The CEO emphasized that sustainability is integral to the company's operations, with investments in transportation optimization, advanced water recirculation systems, and waste reduction [4][6] - Edible Garden's Zero-Waste Inspired® mission continues to drive the integration of sustainable practices into daily operations [4][6] Technological Innovations - The company utilizes proprietary GreenThumb 2.0 software to optimize greenhouse conditions and reduce food miles, along with patented Self-Watering displays to enhance plant shelf life [7] - Edible Garden holds multiple patents in advanced aquaculture technologies, indicating a strong focus on innovation within the industry [7] Industry Recognition - Edible Garden has been recognized as a FoodTech 500 firm and has received awards for its commitment to environmental performance and energy stewardship [8]

Group 1: Walmart Overview - Walmart has surpassed $1 trillion in market capitalization, becoming the 10th U.S. company to achieve this milestone [1] - Despite strong performance, Walmart's growth is not sufficient to justify its high forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 45.2, which is nearly double the S&P 500's 23.6 [3] - Expectations indicate that Walmart will underperform the S&P 500 over the next five years [4] Group 2: Competitors Analysis - ExxonMobil is expected to deliver double-digit earnings and cash flow growth through 2030, with a market cap around $620 billion, potentially joining the $1 trillion club by 2030 [7][8] - Visa is highlighted as a superior investment compared to Walmart, with a forward P/E of 24.4 and a strong business model that benefits from both transaction volume and frequency [10][12] - ASML, despite being expensive at 40.2 times forward earnings, offers better growth prospects and has shown resilience in the semiconductor industry with a 31.5% year-to-date gain [13][14]

Core Insights - Walmart and Amazon are experiencing divergent trends in the retail market, with Amazon's market value exceeding Walmart's by more than double [1][2] - Amazon's valuation is significantly influenced by its cloud computing segment, AWS, which is benefiting from increased demand for AI computing [2] - Walmart's stock has risen as it is perceived to be less affected by AI developments, achieving a market valuation surpassing $1 trillion [2] Walmart Performance - Walmart is regaining market share, attracting more middle-class shoppers, with a revenue growth of 4.9% in Q4 and 5.1% for the full year on a constant currency basis [5] - Comparable sales increased by 4% for the quarter and 5.1% for the full year, bolstered by a 24% growth in its e-commerce business [5] - Earnings per share (EPS) rose by 13.3% last year, with free cash flow reaching $14.9 billion, up from $12.7 billion the previous year [7] - Despite strong results, Walmart's guidance for the upcoming year is seen as underwhelming, with expected sales growth of only 4% [7][10] Amazon Performance - Amazon's capital expenditure of $200 billion for 2026 has raised concerns among investors, despite strong Q4 results [11] - AWS revenue growth accelerated to 24% last quarter, indicating strong demand that continues to outstrip supply [12] - Amazon's advertising business has been a key growth driver, contributing to improvements in operating margins [11] - The stock trades at about 26 times forward earnings estimates, which is considered attractive compared to Walmart's valuation [15]

Core Insights - Walmart's stock has increased approximately 13% year to date, benefiting from a shift in investor focus towards more defensive retail names as consumer confidence declines [1] Financial Performance - Walmart's revenue rose 5.6% to $190.66 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $190.43 billion [3] - Walmart U.S. store sales increased by 4.6% to $129.2 billion, with same-store sales also rising by 4.6% [3] - International sales jumped 11.5% to $31.2 billion, with a 7.5% increase in constant currencies [5] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose 12% to $0.74, with gross margin increasing by 13 basis points [7] E-commerce and Advertising Growth - E-commerce sales grew by 27%, with customers using the AI tool spending 35% more than non-users [4] - International e-commerce sales increased by 17%, and U.S. ad revenue surged by 41% [4][5] Future Projections - Walmart projects first-quarter sales growth between 3.5% to 4.5% and adjusted EPS of $0.63 to $0.65 [9] - For the full year, revenue growth is expected to be between 3.5% to 4.5%, with adjusted EPS projected at $2.75 to $2.85, which is below the consensus of $2.96 [9] Investment Considerations - Despite strong revenue growth and operational improvements, the stock's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio above 40 times raises concerns about valuation given mid-single-digit revenue growth [10]