People in their 50s are usually in their highest-earning years, giving them a great opportunity to significantly boost their retirement savings. Unfortunately, those who don’t leverage this time might find that retirement sneaks up on them faster than they imagined. Here are some very common money mistakes that people make in their 50s that you want to avoid. Spending Money on Discretionary Expenses Instead of Savings Lifestyle creep is always a risk for savers, but it can be particularly damaging in yo ...

Core Insights - Fashion has become a significant growth area for Dillard's Inc. (DDS), enabling the company to achieve category-level gains despite a challenging retail environment [1][2] - Dillard's reported a 3% increase in total retail sales and comparable-store sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, indicating steady customer engagement [2][10] - The company's merchandising strategy, which focuses on curated assortments and higher-margin private labels, has been a key driver of recent fashion momentum [3][4] Sales Performance - Dillard's experienced strong gains in women's apparel, dresses, occasion wear, juniors', children's apparel, accessories, and lingerie [10] - The company expanded its gross margin, with additional gains in shoes, men's apparel, home goods, furniture, and cosmetics [10] Market Position - Dillard's has outperformed many traditional department store peers, suggesting that its disciplined assortment planning and brand relevance resonate well with consumers [2][5] - The company's shares have increased by 54.6% over the past year, compared to the industry's growth of 52.6% [6] Valuation Metrics - Dillard's trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 22.6X, which is higher than the industry's 15.30X multiple [9] Future Outlook - The sustainability of the current demand for discretionary items is uncertain due to inflation and economic factors, but Dillard's focused merchandising and inventory management position it well for near-term challenges [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year decline in earnings for fiscal 2025 and 2026, but estimates have been revised upward in the past 30 days [13]

Consumer Behavior - Consumers are adapting to budget constraints by opting for smaller, more frequent purchases [1] - Consumers are reducing spending on non-essential discretionary items [1]

Core Viewpoint - There is a broad-based decline in consumer confidence, particularly regarding jobs, incomes, and financial expectations, likely influenced by the government shutdown [2][3][5]. Consumer Confidence - Consumer confidence has decreased significantly in November, with families reporting a negative assessment of their financial situations [2][3]. - Discretionary spending plans are declining, as consumers are cutting back on spending for services and entertainment [3][10]. Labor Market Insights - The labor market is experiencing a lack of churn, with minimal hiring and layoffs, yet the unemployment rate is gradually increasing [5]. - The labor differential index, which measures job availability perceptions, has been on a downward trend, correlating with the rising unemployment rate [5]. Demographic Trends - There are notable demographic differences in confidence levels, with younger individuals under 35 showing improved confidence, while those over 55 are less optimistic despite market gains [6][7]. Holiday Shopping Outlook - Consumers are entering the holiday shopping season with caution, indicating a potential shift in spending behavior [8][10]. - Retail sales data for Q3 suggests robust consumer spending overall, but there are signs of caution as the quarter ends, particularly in discretionary purchases [9][10].

Core Insights - Global inflation remains persistent, leading to a decline in discretionary spending, which significantly impacts retailers [1] - Retailers face weaker pricing and increased cost pressures, affecting even those with strong brand recognition [1] Industry Summary - The logistics sector is experiencing challenges due to inflation and changing consumer spending patterns [1] - Retailers are often the first to feel the effects of economic downturns, resulting in a ripple effect across various sectors [1] Company Summary - Companies with established domestic footprints are not immune to the pressures of inflation and changing consumer behavior [1] - The article highlights the importance of diversification in investment portfolios, particularly in sectors like banking, telecommunications, logistics, and hotels [1]

This morning, though, we get results from Target. Target and target narratives, profit forecasts, as we were talking about discounts and slowing demand weighing on earnings. Bloomberg retail reporter Emily Cohen joins us now.So what are we learning about the consumer that we're already a little bit worried about, Emily. Yeah, I mean, Target is seeing a consumer that is shopping. It's spending, not leaning into the the discretionary things that target is known for.The the retailer trimmed its forecast again ...

Shares of American Express ( AXP ) have been a solid performer over the past year, adding over 20%. More recently, shares have come under some pressure as concerns have mounted about discretionary spending, with the stock down about 9% from its highs. Given its higher-quality customerOver fifteen years of experience making contrarian bets based on my macro view and stock-specific turnaround stories to garner outsized returns with a favorable risk/reward profile. If you want me to cover a specific stock or h ...

Core Viewpoint - Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. is considering a public listing on Indian stock exchanges, which would position it as India's second-largest listed IT services company, following Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) [1][2] Company Strategy - Cognizant's board and management are evaluating opportunities to enhance shareholder value, including a potential primary offering and secondary listing in India, with legal and financial advisors involved [2][3] - The company ended the previous year with $19.74 billion in revenue and has a significant workforce in India, with over two-thirds of its 241,500 employees based there [2] Market Valuation - The motivation behind the potential India listing is attributed to better valuation opportunities in the Indian market, where Cognizant's price-to-earnings ratio is around 13, compared to 22-23 for local firms like TCS and Infosys [4][5] Industry Context - Cognizant's potential listing follows the upcoming public listing of Carlyle-backed Hexaware Technologies Ltd. in February 2025, indicating a trend of American firms seeking to tap into the Indian market [6] Financial Performance - Cognizant reported better-than-expected performance for the July-September period, with revenue of $5.42 billion, reflecting a 3.24% sequential increase and a 7.36% year-over-year growth, surpassing analyst estimates [7][8] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $21.05-$21.1 billion, indicating a projected annual growth of 6.6%-6.9%, up from a previous range of 4.7%-6.7% [11] Growth Dynamics - Cognizant's organic growth has improved as reliance on acquisitions has decreased, with year-on-year growth rates of 8.2%, 7.2%, and 6.5% in the first three quarters of the year [12][13] - The Belcan acquisition contributed significantly to growth in earlier quarters, but its impact has diminished, suggesting a shift towards more sustainable growth strategies [13][14] Operational Insights - The company's net profit declined by over half sequentially to $274 million due to higher one-time income tax expenses [15] - Operating margin increased by 40 basis points to 16%, attributed to a depreciating Indian rupee and disciplined expense management [16] Workforce and Hiring Practices - Cognizant's employee count rose to 349,800, an increase of 6,000 from the previous quarter, amidst scrutiny over hiring practices in the US [17][18] - The company has reduced its dependency on visas and increased local hiring, mitigating potential impacts from recent US policy changes [19][20]

Joining us now is David Steinberg. He's the CEO of Zeta Global. David, we're gonna maybe brand this as David Zeta data.What do you think. >> I don't know. My my wife and kids might like it, but the uh you know, as you've said, in the current environment, getting access to data is getting harder.And what we're seeing is more and more people looking at private indicacies like the Zeta Economic Index. Yeah, because with you know and now there's all this also it's not just that government data may not happen Da ...

Core Insights - The current economic environment shows a disparity in spending habits, with wealthier individuals increasing their spending while others are reducing discretionary expenses [3][7] - There is a notable decline in consumer interest in credit, with a 22% drop from July to August, impacting larger purchases for non-wealthy consumers [5][10] - Essential spending is on the rise, which is helping to maintain overall economic growth despite the drop in discretionary spending [6][7] Economic Indicators - The Zeta Economic Index decreased by four points from July to August, indicating a potential slowdown, but GDP is still expected to grow at or above 2% for the remainder of the year [6][7] - Essential items are being purchased at a greater rate, offsetting declines in discretionary spending and contributing to GDP growth [7][11] - Labor Day sales are anticipated to provide a boost in retail activity for September [8] Consumer Behavior - There is an increasing aversion to risk among consumers, which is reflected in their spending patterns [3][4][11] - The automotive sector has seen a decline in spending, with a noted drop of four points [4] - Consumers are still willing to spend on essential items, which is crucial for maintaining economic stability [10][11]