The merged entity would create a regional tech giant second only to Sea Limited, the owner of Shopee, South-East Asia’s dominant ecommerce platform. Yet politics could stand in the way of a deal https://t.co/v9lirHty6c ...

Core Insights - SoundHound AI (SOUN) is experiencing significant growth in the restaurant voice AI sector, activating over 1,000 new restaurant locations in Q1 2025, which is ten times the pace from the previous year [1][11] - The integration of the Polaris foundation model and strategic acquisitions like SYNQ3 and Allset has enhanced order-taking efficiency across major QSR brands [2][11] - SoundHound's AI is outperforming human agents in terms of order value and call-handling efficiency, driven by economic uncertainty prompting restaurants to seek cost-effective operational improvements [3] Company Developments - SoundHound is building a connected ecosystem that links restaurants, automakers, and OEMs, facilitating hands-free ordering for consumers [4] - The company's early leadership in voice AI for restaurants could be transformative, with the potential for this initiative to become a defining moment for SoundHound [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Presto Automation and Cerence Inc. are also targeting the restaurant and commerce sectors, with Presto focusing on drive-thru solutions and Cerence leveraging automotive relationships for voice-enabled services [6][7][8] Financial Performance - SoundHound's shares have increased by 25.6% over the past three months, significantly outperforming the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry's growth of 3.4% [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SOUN's 2025 loss per share remains at 16 cents, showing improvement from a loss of $1.04 per share a year ago [15] - SOUN is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 25.29, compared to the industry's 18.67 [16]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) and Target Corporation (TGT) are key players in the Retail–Discount Stores industry, with Costco having a market capitalization of approximately $414 billion and Target at about $48 billion [1][2] - Costco operates 908 warehouses globally, while Target has 1,981 store locations across the United States [1][2] - Evaluating the growth positioning of these retailers is essential amid changing consumer spending patterns and economic dynamics [3] Costco's Position - Costco's membership-based model is a significant growth driver, with high membership renewal rates of 92.7% in the U.S. and Canada and 90.2% globally [4] - Membership fee income increased by 10.4% year over year in Q3 2025, with 79.6 million paid household members, a 6.8% increase year over year [5][10] - The company plans to open 27 new warehouses in fiscal 2025, expanding its global presence [6] - E-commerce comparable sales rose 14.8% in Q3 2025, with a 31% increase in logistics deliveries [7][10] - Despite challenges such as currency headwinds and potential tariffs, Costco's model remains resilient [8] Target's Position - Target is focusing on brand presence, diverse product offerings, and expanding e-commerce capabilities to drive growth [9] - The company plans to open around 20 new stores and remodel existing locations in fiscal 2025 [11] - Target's third-party marketplace, Target Plus, saw over a 20% increase in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in the first quarter [12] - However, Target has issued a cautious outlook for fiscal 2025, expecting a low-single-digit decline in sales and adjusted earnings between $7.00-$9.00 per share [13] - Target's first-quarter performance showed challenges with declining sales and earnings, driven by weakening consumer demand [14] Financial Estimates - Costco's current fiscal-year sales and EPS estimates imply year-over-year growth of 8.1% and 11.6%, respectively [15] - Target's current fiscal-year sales and EPS estimates suggest a year-over-year decline of 1.8% and 14.8%, respectively [17] Stock Performance - Costco shares advanced 14.2% over the past year, while Target shares declined by 29% [20] - Costco's forward P/E ratio is 47.34, lower than its one-year median of 50.76, while Target's forward P/E ratio stands at 13.50 [21] Investment Outlook - Costco is viewed as a safer investment choice due to its stable membership model and efficient cost structure, while Target faces short-term challenges [23]

国联股份（603613）公告，控股子公司卫多多电子商务拟实施A1轮增资扩股，引入珠海格金九号和珠 海格金三号各出资1亿元，其中49.75万元计入注册资本，剩余部分计入资本公积，两者持股比例均为 1.61%。增资完成后，卫多多注册资本将由3000万元增加至3099.5万元，仍为国联股份控股子公司。本 次增资扩股不构成关联交易或重大资产重组。本次资金将用于优化资产负债结构、推进工业电商规模、 建设数字供应链和数字云工厂等。 ...

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. ASO is strengthening its merchandising, RFID technology and operational capabilities to drive more consistent performance amid choppy sales trends.Reflecting a positive outlook for the company’s trajectory, Telsey Advisory Group analyst Cristina Fernández reiterated the Outperform rating on Academy Sports and Outdoors, raising the price forecast from $58 to $65.Fernández highlighted Academy is exploring improvements in supply chain, e‑commerce, marketing, loyalty and custom ...

As SVP, Head of Product, Performance Media, Schobeiri will help shape Criteo's future as a platform-first business and unlock greater value for brands and agenciesNEW YORK, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO), the global platform connecting the commerce ecosystem, today announced the appointment of Wilfried Schobeiri as Senior Vice President, Head of Product, Performance Media, reporting to Chief Product Officer Todd Parsons. Schobeiri will lead Criteo's global efforts to accelerate the evol ...

The B2B Quick Start Accelerator Program provides a fixed-cost, fast-track to digital launch with proven delivery partners, accelerating time-to-transaction and ROIAUSTIN, Texas, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC), a leading open SaaS ecommerce platform for B2B and B2C businesses, today announced the launch of the B2B Quick Start Accelerator, a partner-led implementation program built to help mid-market B2B sellers launch faster, reduce risk and realize ROI sooner. The program featu ...

Walmart says it is making efforts to rid its online marketplace of counterfeit sellers.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.“While counterfeits are estimated to represent a tiny minority of the products ...

Manhattan Associates, Inc. MANH reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results and raised its FY25 guidance above estimates on Tuesday.Manhattan Associates reported quarterly earnings of $1.31 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.13 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $272.42 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $263.61 million.“Manhattan delivered record second quarter results. Solid demand drove Q2 cloud revenue growth of 22% and RPO surp ...

[Music] So, as a philosopher turned engineer, I have, for better or for worse, been obsessed with two questions my whole life. Uh, what is a thing and why does it exist. So, we're here talking about AI and the Fortune 500 and the future of AI commerce.So, let's ask a hopefully straightforward question. What is a store. A 100 years ago, a store looked like this.Something we don't really recognize today. Inventory was in the back of a shop. You had to talk to a clerk, tell them what you wanted.They went and t ...