Key Takeaways Shares of Nike rose Wednesday, helped by news of a buy from Apple CEO Tim Cook, a member of the company's board. Cook bought at average prices near $59, well below Wall Street analysts' consensus price target around $80. A vote of confidence from the leader of one big brand is helping the shares of another today. Shares of Nike (NKE) climbed on Wednesday's holiday-shortened trading session—the shares were recently up about 4.5%, leading all gainers on the S&P 500—following an express ...

In this piece, we will look at the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed.In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer discussed OpenAI’s valuation after media reports suggested that the firm was trying to raise $100 billion in capital at a valuation of $830 billion. OpenAI has become one of the most valuable startups in the world in the era of AI. However, the $830 billion figure came weeks after other media reports had suggested that the AI company was raising capital at a $500 billion ...

Core Insights - Starbucks has appointed Anand Varadarajan as its new Chief Technology Officer, effective January 19, 2024, following the departure of former CTO Deb Hall Lefevre [2] - Varadarajan brings nearly 19 years of experience from Amazon, where he led technology and supply chain for the grocery stores division [1][4] - Starbucks is undergoing a turnaround strategy under CEO Brian Niccol, who took over in September 2024, with recent quarterly same-store sales showing growth for the first time in nearly two years [6] Company Developments - Varadarajan's hiring is part of Starbucks' restructuring plan, which includes a $1 billion investment aimed at improving operations and technology [2] - The Green Apron Service, a $500 million investment in labor, is part of Starbucks' strategy to enhance service efficiency and is driven by the increase in digital orders, which now account for over 30% of sales [7] - The company is also facing challenges due to an ongoing strike of unionized baristas, although holiday sales have been strong [6] Technology and Innovation - At Amazon, Varadarajan was responsible for overseeing grocery technology innovations, including the integration of mini robotic warehouses in Whole Foods [5] - His expertise in creating reliable systems and driving operational excellence is expected to benefit Starbucks as it seeks to enhance its technology infrastructure [3]

Key Points Sales volume increased for Lamb Weston, but a lower pricing mix offset this gain. Meanwhile, profitability remains weak as the company ramps up production at its new facilities. Ultimately, guidance was disappointing, so Lamb Weston may be deserving of its discounted valuation for the time being. 10 stocks we like better than Lamb Weston › Shares of leading frozen potato supplier Lamb Weston (NYSE: LW) plummeted 22% as of 11 a.m. ET on Friday after the French fry juggernaut provided u ...

Nike Inc. shares fell after the company warned that sales will decline this quarter amid persistent weakness in China and at its Converse brand. The world’s largest sportswear company expects revenue to be down in the low-single digits in the three months that started Dec. 1, a surprising turn after two straight periods of growth. Most Read from Bloomberg While Nike is making progress, especially in North America and the running category, investors are eager for the company to make headway in other are ...

I keep accumulating Lumen Technologies, Inc. ( LUMN ) shares because I like the pace and direction of the company's turnaround. Lumen's share price was below $6 when I last covered the stock onComing from an IT background, I have dived into the U.S. stock market seven years ago by managing portfolio of my family. Starting managing real money has been challenging for the first time, but long hours of mastering fundamental analysis of public companies paid off and now I feel very confident in my investment de ...

Core Insights - Lululemon is in search of a new CEO following the announcement of Calvin McDonald's departure at the end of January, with investor Elliott Investment Management proposing Jane Nielsen as a candidate [1][4][7] Group 1: CEO Search and Candidate Proposal - Elliott Investment Management, which holds a stake of over $1 billion in Lululemon, has suggested Jane Nielsen, a former CFO at Ralph Lauren, as a potential CEO [2][3] - Nielsen's previous experience includes successful turnarounds at Ralph Lauren and Coach, and she is currently a board member at Mondelz International [4][7] - The market reacted positively to the news, with Lululemon shares rising more than 4%, although they remain down over 40% for the year [4] Group 2: Company Performance and Strategy - Lululemon has experienced a slowdown in U.S. sales as it expands its product offerings beyond its traditional yoga-focused items to include golf, tennis gear, and men's apparel [6] - The company aims to revitalize its American business by introducing new products in the spring and enhancing its design and production processes [6]

Core Viewpoint - PepsiCo is experiencing a challenging period, with stock performance declining for three consecutive years, leading to investor frustration [1][2] Group 1: Company Performance - The company has faced difficulties primarily in its food segment, with Frito-Lay and Quaker Oats reporting revenue and volume declines, particularly a 14% drop in Quaker's revenue and volume [5][10] - Despite these challenges, PepsiCo is implementing changes, such as promoting healthier snack options and launching new products like dye-free Cheetos and Doritos [7][8] - The beverage segment is also undergoing transformation, with the introduction of the world's first prebiotic cola and plans to reduce operating costs by 20% [8][10] Group 2: Future Outlook - Analysts predict a potential revenue growth of 3.4% year-over-year by 2026, which would be a significant achievement for the company [11] - Earnings per share are expected to rise from $8.11 this year to $8.58 next year, indicating a positive trend [11] - Investors will need to monitor sales and volume growth in both food and beverage sectors in the upcoming year to gauge the effectiveness of the company's turnaround efforts [10][12]

Core Insights - The investment thesis for GameStop (GME) is centered around its successful pivot into collectibles, expanding beyond its original focus on video game trading [1] Group 1: Company Strategy - GameStop has transitioned from being solely a video game trading platform to incorporating collectibles into its business model, indicating a diversification strategy aimed at capturing new revenue streams [1] Group 2: Market Position - The shift towards collectibles positions GameStop to potentially tap into a growing market, which may enhance its long-term growth prospects [1]

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings, Inc. is experiencing ongoing softness in consumer spending, raising concerns about the pace of its turnaround [1][4] - Bank of America Securities analyst Mihir Bhatia downgraded PayPal from Buy to Neutral, lowering the price forecast from $93 to $68 due to slower progress in revitalizing branded checkout growth [1][2] Company Performance - The company has not seen the expected increase in button usage from product upgrades and a refreshed checkout experience [2] - Management views 2026 as an investment year, which limits near-term upside for the shares [2][3] - Branded checkout growth is expected to slow significantly in the fourth quarter, marking the weakest expansion in several years [3][5] Market Position - There are concerns that PayPal may be losing market share to rival digital wallets and alternatives, as branded checkout volumes have grown more slowly than broader e-commerce benchmarks [5][6] - The company has flagged continued softness in spending into November, contrasting with generally positive retail updates [4][6] Financial Outlook - Bhatia has lowered his earnings forecasts for 2026 and 2027, reflecting slower growth and higher investment spending, with downside risk if 2027 remains investment-heavy [6] - PayPal's customer base skews toward middle- and lower-income households, which are more exposed to retail and discretionary spending [6]