Group 1 - Nike reported Q1 FY26 results with revenue of $11.72 billion, exceeding the $10.97 billion estimate, and EPS of $0.49, surpassing the $0.27 expectation, indicating a positive financial performance [2] - The company experienced a gross margin improvement and a 2% year-over-year decline in inventory, suggesting early signs of a turnaround [2] - Management noted the relisting of Nike shoes on Amazon, which has shown positive sales pickup and stronger consumer engagement, potentially signaling a successful turnaround [3] Group 2 - Bill Ackman remains bullish on Nike, despite not showing call options on NKE in Pershing Square's Q2 13F, indicating a direct bet on the company's rebound [5] - The launch of the ACKY ETF by VistaShares aims to track Ackman's Pershing Square portfolio, featuring a 15% annual dividend, making it accessible for retail investors [3][4] - Nike's progress in key markets and the introduction of the ACKY ETF have placed Ackman's investment strategy in the spotlight this week [5]

Core Viewpoint - Nike Inc's turnaround efforts are beginning to show positive results as the company refocuses on core sports categories like running and basketball, leading to a boost in share prices by approximately 4% in premarket trading [1] Financial Performance - Nike's sales fell by 1% on a currency-neutral basis in the most recent quarter, which was a smaller decline than expected, with total sales reaching $11.7 billion, surpassing the $11 billion forecast by Wall Street [3] - The company anticipates a low-single-digit decline in sales for the current quarter, aligning with projections [3] - Wholesale revenue increased by 5% on a currency-neutral basis to $6.8 billion, exceeding analyst estimates [8] Strategic Initiatives - CEO Elliott Hill has implemented a strategy to clear old inventory and reorganize the corporate structure, including laying off less than 1% of corporate staff and replacing several top executives [5] - The company is refocusing on sports and product development rather than casual footwear and fashion items [5] - Nike has redesigned its major running franchises, resulting in over 20% sales growth in the running category for the current quarter [6] Product Launches and Collaborations - The launch of NikeSkims, a new line in collaboration with Kim Kardashian's Skims, has received a strong response from shoppers, with a global rollout planned for 2026 [7] - Nike is returning to Amazon.com for the first time in six years and is enhancing its presence at Foot Locker stores [8] Challenges and Market Conditions - The company faces challenges from US tariffs, now expecting $1.5 billion in incremental costs due to higher levies, which have negatively impacted gross margins [9] - Sales in the Greater China region remain weak, attributed to "structural challenges," with plans for a focused restructuring in that market [10] - The Converse brand is struggling, with sales declining by 28% in the quarter after currency adjustments [11] Market Sentiment - Analysts have noted that while Nike's turnaround is on track, there remains a cautious medium to long-term outlook [8][12]

Nike shares uh up nicely today about 4%. Profit and revenue beat Wall Street expectations signaling turnaround efforts that the company may be taking hold. Uh sales grew about 1% from the same quarter a year ago.Surprising analysts. Nike expects current quarter revenue revenue though to fall by low singledigit uh percentages in line with where the street was. Anyway, on the topic of tariffs, and that's has a lot to do with this, Nike said it expects a hit of $1.5% billion uh and a gross margin impact of 1.2 ...

Core Viewpoint - Nike's recent financial performance shows signs of a turnaround, with profit and revenue exceeding Wall Street expectations, although the company anticipates a decline in revenue for the current quarter due to various challenges [1][2]. Financial Performance - Nike's sales grew approximately 1% compared to the same quarter last year, indicating a potential recovery [1]. - The company expects a revenue decline in the current quarter by low single-digit percentages, aligning with analyst expectations [2]. Margin and Tariff Impact - Nike anticipates a $1.5 billion hit and a gross margin impact of 1.2 percentage points in fiscal 2026 due to tariffs, which is higher than previous projections [2]. - The operating margins have significantly decreased, currently around 5-6%, with a goal to return to 10-12% [6][7]. Market Position and Competition - Analysts suggest that Nike may not regain its previous dominance in the global sporting goods market due to increased competition from brands like On and Hoka [5]. - The company is facing challenges in improving margins while also raising prices, which could further pressure consumer demand [8][10]. Inventory Management - Nike has undertaken "reset actions" to manage inventory, pulling 15-30% of classic products from the marketplace to create a void, which will be refilled with new products [14]. - The liquidation of excess inventory through off-price channels has resulted in low margins, compounding the financial pressure [16]. Future Outlook - Analysts express cautious optimism about Nike's ability to stabilize and improve margins, but highlight the uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment as a significant challenge [19]. - The stock is expected to trade within a range of $70 to $75, indicating a holding pattern as the company navigates through current challenges [18].

Group 1 - Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is undergoing an aggressive restructuring plan as part of CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround efforts, which includes laying off 900 non-retail employees and closing under-performing stores [2] - Jim Cramer supports Niccol's strategy, emphasizing the importance of closing laggard stores to improve same-store sales, which can be achieved by boosting sales or maintaining the performance of successful locations [2] - The restructuring is aimed at transforming certain locations that do not fit the traditional coffee house model and enhancing mobile ordering capabilities [2] Group 2 - While SBUX shows potential as an investment, there is a belief that some AI stocks may offer higher returns with limited downside risk [3]

As reported by Bloomberg, Raghavan directly approached Citi chief executive Jane Fraser in 2023, when she was struggling to find a leader for investment banking. He pitched himself as the one who could revive the division. Within days, he was on a flight to New York and sealed the deal.Since his arrival, Citi has gained ground in investment banking. The bank has advised on marquee transactions such as Johnson & Johnson’s $14.6 billion acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies and Nippon Steel’s $15 billion t ...

you. Let's turn to Starbucks this morning, as you might know, announcing plans to cut some corporate jobs, close some North American stores as part of the company's broader turnaround efforts. Let's get to Kate Rogers, who brought us that news earlier this morning.Morning again, Kate. Good morning, Carl. So, Starbucks announcing a $1 billion restructuring plan this morning in an SEC filing, adding that it will lay off some 900 non- retail employees and, as you said, closed stores.The number of company opera ...

Core Viewpoint - Starbucks is implementing a $1 billion restructuring plan that includes closing underperforming stores in North America and cutting 900 jobs to improve its financial performance and customer experience [1][9]. Group 1: Store Closures and Job Cuts - The company will close stores where it cannot meet customer expectations or achieve financial performance, with the majority of closures expected by the end of the fiscal year, reducing the North American store count by about 1% [3][4]. - The job cuts will primarily affect support teams, and the company will also close many open positions, with approximately 10,000 employees in non-coffee-house roles as of September 29, 2024 [8][11]. Group 2: Sales Performance - Starbucks has experienced six consecutive quarters of sales decline in the US, attributed to changing consumer preferences and increased competition [2][6]. Group 3: Leadership and Strategy - CEO Brian Niccol, who previously led a turnaround at Chipotle, is focusing on investing in store improvements to reduce service times and enhance the coffee-house environment while streamlining management [5][8]. - The company is also investing in technology to improve order sequencing and customer experience [9][11]. Group 4: Financial Outlook - Starbucks anticipates ending the fiscal year with nearly 18,300 locations across the US and Canada, down from 18,734 locations reported in July [4]. - Since Niccol's appointment in August 2024, Starbucks shares have increased by approximately 9% [11].

Company Performance - Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, is showing signs of a turnaround [1]

Core Insights - Madison Investments released its second-quarter 2025 investor letter for the Madison Small Cap Fund, highlighting a challenging start to the quarter due to catastrophic tariffs, followed by a rebound supported by positive macroeconomic data [1] - The Russell 2000 Index increased by 8.5% for the quarter, while the Madison Small Cap Fund (class Y) returned 4.42%, underperforming compared to the Russell 2000 and Russell 2500 [1] Company Analysis: The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. - The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAIN) has faced significant challenges, with a one-month return of -15.29% and a staggering 81.70% loss in value over the past 52 weeks, closing at $1.44 per share with a market capitalization of $130.022 million on September 17, 2025 [2] - The company has seen a notable decrease in food consumption, particularly in ultra-processed items, with reductions ranging from 6.7% to 11.1%, leading to disappointing Q1 results, especially in its salty snack brand [3] - Due to the difficulties in turnaround amidst shrinking volumes and frugal consumer behavior, the fund decided to exit its investment position in The Hain Celestial Group entirely, following a CEO replacement and ongoing strategic evaluations [3]