The results of the CNBC NRF retail monitor for May just released. Let's get to Steve Leeman. He has more on this.Hi, Steve. Hey, Becky. Consumer spending growth slowed in May.Apparent payback from strong April outlays that were propelled by consumers pulling forward purchases ahead of tariffs. And consumers of course could now face new challenges after developments overnight in the Middle East. Uh the CNBC NRF retail monitor.It's powered by real credit card spending data from Affinity Solutions showed a 0.5 ...

June 6, 2025 02:10 PM GMT Asia/Pacific Weekly Preview | Asia Pacific M Update China's Inflation to Soften; Softer Australia Business Sentiment Key Takeaways Australia China India • CPI: CPI to slow in YOY terms but to rise sequentially due to higher food prices. Japan • GDP 2nd Preliminary: Slight downward revision in real capex. Upward revision to public investment. Real GDP growth at -0.8% QoQ SAAR. Morgan Stanley Asia (Singapore) Pte.+ Derrick Y Kam Asia Economist Derrick.Kam@morganstanley.com +65 6834-8 ...

Target (TGT -0.52%) is a passive income powerhouse with more than five decades of annual dividend raises and an enticing 4.8% yield. But even with the high payout, Target has lost investors money over the last five years while the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.53%) has more than doubled with dividends included.Here's why Target is under pressure, and whether the dividend stock is a buy right now. Retail winners and losersRetailers like Target have been under pressure as consumers tighten spending amid inflation and eco ...

Core Insights - General Mills is facing significant challenges in the current consumer environment, with consumer sentiment at a low point, comparable to the period immediately following the pandemic in 2020 [5][6]. Company Overview - The company is heavily reliant on the U.S. market, with 85% of its business operations based there [6]. - Consumer financial stress is evident, as U.S. consumer debt has increased, indicating that while consumers are still making purchases, they are financially stretched [6]. Industry Context - The overall consumer sentiment in the U.S. is reported to be the second lowest in history, as per the University of Michigan's polling data [6].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the industry or companies discussed Core Insights - China's economy appears stable with a focus on boosting demand and improving consumer sentiment, despite challenges in the property market [1][4] - The property market remains fragile but stable, with government policies aimed at stimulating demand rather than supply [5][10] - Exporters are shifting production to Southeast Asia and Mexico due to high costs in the US, leading to potential price increases for Chinese products [1][5] - Industrial technology is advancing, with Chinese companies catching up to Western suppliers in automation and AI [1][28] - Datacenter construction is expected to significantly increase in 2025 due to AI adoption, with a potential doubling in compute buildout [1][6] Summary by Sections Economic Overview - The macroeconomic environment in China is stable, with minimal panic regarding tariffs and a notable focus on demand-side stimulus [4][8] - Consumer sentiment is increasingly important, with government efforts to boost consumption following trade negotiations [4][10] Property Market - The property market is stabilized by demand-side policies, but improvement is fading, and the government is focused on fixing this part of the economy [5][11] - Transaction volumes in the secondary housing market are performing better than new housing, with a notable divergence between luxury and ordinary homes [7][10] Export and Production Shifts - Exporters are moving production to existing hubs in Southeast Asia and Mexico, avoiding the US due to high costs [5][18] - Chinese appliance companies are successfully penetrating overseas markets, particularly in the EU and North America [13][19] Industrial Technology - The discrete automation market is showing signs of recovery, with Chinese companies developing competitive technologies in software and AI [28][39] - Shenzhen Inovance is gaining market share in industrial automation, focusing on customized solutions and responsiveness to customer demands [30][32] Datacenter and AI Adoption - AI adoption is accelerating, with significant investments expected in datacenter infrastructure by 2025 [6][39] - Companies are taking a pragmatic approach to AI integration, looking for validated use cases before large-scale implementation [6][39] Company-Specific Insights - Midea's domestic sales are expected to see single-digit growth, driven by a replacement cycle rather than new demand [13][21] - Haier is experiencing growth in overseas markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, while maintaining a focus on the US and EU [19][24] - Hisense is benefiting from subsidy policies, leading to revenue growth in both domestic and international markets [24][25]

Core Insights - Visa's CFO, Chris Suh, discussed the current spending environment, highlighting consumer sentiment and economic indicators [3][4]. Group 1: Economic Indicators - Employment numbers are reported to be strong, with stable wage growth contributing to a resilient consumer base [4]. - Inflation has moderated, which has positively impacted consumer spending behavior [4]. Group 2: Spending Trends - There is an observed uncertainty in consumer sentiment, which is reflected in the overall spending trends both domestically and in cross-border transactions [3]. - Despite the noise in the economic environment, Visa relies on factual data to assess the situation [3].

Summary of Community Health Systems (CYH) Conference Call Industry Overview - The discussion primarily revolves around the healthcare industry, specifically focusing on Community Health Systems (CYH) and its operational and financial outlook amidst changing policies and market dynamics. Key Points and Arguments Policy Changes and DPP Programs - Recent legislative changes are expected to have a neutral to slightly positive impact on DPP (Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment) programs, with no significant pullback anticipated [4][5][9] - The company expects existing DPP programs to continue operating as they are, with potential new programs being introduced in the future [4][5] - Work requirements may lead to increased employment coverage, positively affecting staffing [6] Operational Performance - Q1 was impacted by flu season and a decline in elective surgeries, particularly among commercially insured patients, attributed to economic decisions [10][11] - Inpatient volumes remained strong, but elective surgeries saw a decline, particularly among patients with high copays and deductibles [10][11][12] - Consumer sentiment has not improved significantly, which may lead to a pullback in procedures early in the year, but a rush for care is expected as patients meet their deductibles later [12][13] Labor and Cost Management - Average hourly wages increased by approximately 3.5% in Q1, but overall salaries and wages as a percentage of net revenue did not increase due to productivity gains [17][18] - The company has implemented efficiency initiatives through a new ERP system, improving scheduling and labor management, which has positively impacted nurse retention rates [19][20][21] - Turnover rates for nurses are in the high teens, showing improvement compared to previous years [21] Professional Fees and Supply Costs - Professional fees, particularly for anesthesia and radiology, are expected to increase by 8-12% for the year, with Q1 seeing a 9% increase [26][27] - The company has not experienced tariff-related cost increases and has protections in place through GPO contracts [31][32] - The ERP system enhances visibility and efficiency in purchasing, allowing for better management of supply costs [33] Development and Capital Allocation - The company is expanding its footprint through acquisitions, including 10 urgent care centers in Tucson and plans for additional ASCs (Ambulatory Surgery Centers) [35][36] - Approximately half of the capital will be allocated to growth initiatives, focusing on outpatient services rather than large inpatient projects [36][37] Capital Structure and Leverage - The company exited the year with a leverage ratio of 7.4 times, which improved to 7.1 times after refinancing $700 million in bonds [44][45] - Future divestitures and DPP program approvals are expected to further reduce leverage, potentially reaching the mid-six times by year-end [45][46] Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - The company is in the later stages of its private divestiture program, evaluating market dynamics for potential future sales or acquisitions [50][51] - The focus is on optimizing operations and investments based on changing market conditions and future performance potential [52] Additional Important Insights - The company has seen improvements in nurse recruitment efforts, leveraging its geographic footprint in favorable states for attracting talent [23][24] - There is ongoing exploration of technology solutions in radiology to mitigate cost increases [28] - The approval process for DPP programs in Tennessee is expected to progress positively following recent administrative changes [47][48]

The University of Michigan Sentiment index was weaker than expected in the May preliminary release, falling to 50.8 from 52.2. Both the current conditions and the expectations indices fell. The interview period for this release was April 22nd-May 13th so it is likely not fully reflecting some of the most recent pullback in tariffs. Generally, consumer sentiment measures have been weak, but it remains to be seen if this will be reflected in consumers actually reducing spending in coming months. V i e w p o i ...

Simon Property Group (SPG) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 12, 2025 05:00 PM ET Company Participants Thomas Ward - SVP - IRDavid Simon - Chairman, CEO & PresidentBrian McDade - Executive VP & CFOSamir Khanal - DirectorCaitlin Burrows - Vice PresidentGreg Mcginniss - DirectorFloris van Dijkum - Managing DirectorVince Tibone - Managing Director and Head of US Industrial & Mall ResearchRonald Kamdem - Managing Director & Head of US REITs and CRE ResearchRavi Vaidya - Vice PresidentOmotayo Okusanya - Managing Directo ...

Advantage Solutions (ADV) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 12, 2025 08:30 AM ET Company Participants Ruben Mella - VP - IRDave Peacock - Chief Executive OfficerChris Growe - CFOJoseph Vafi - Managing Director, Equity ResearchFaiza Alwy - Managing Director, US Company Research Conference Call Participants William Reuter - Analyst Operator Greetings, and welcome to the Advantage Solutions First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. After the speakers' rem ...