“We shore up our fragile personalities with objects.”On “The Weekend Intelligence”: why adults are buying plushies, Lego and collectibles for themselves—and what it really says about them https://t.co/YnBxBmro58 ...

It seems conservative consumers would rather press mainstream brands to hew to their views than buy politically charged coffee beans or SIM cards https://t.co/RfCr3GP1HC ...

Core Insights - Walmart's quarterly earnings slightly exceeded Wall Street estimates, marking the first report under new CEO John Furner [1] - The retailer's market capitalization recently surpassed $1 trillion for the first time [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 were reported at $0.74, slightly above the forecast of $0.73 [1] - Revenue for the quarter increased by 5.6% to $190.7 billion, aligning closely with Wall Street's expectations of $190.6 billion [2] - For fiscal year 2026, Walmart's total revenue reached $715.9 billion, slightly above estimates, with adjusted earnings per share at $2.64, a cent higher than expected [3] Stock Performance - Walmart's shares rose by 1% in premarket trading and have increased over 13% year to date [4] Future Guidance - For the first quarter, Walmart anticipates revenue growth of 3.5-4.5% and adjusted earnings per share of $0.63-$0.65, which is below Wall Street's expectations of 5% growth and earnings of $0.69 [4] - For fiscal year 2027, the company expects revenue growth of 3.5%-4.5% and adjusted earnings of $2.75-$2.85, also conservative compared to Wall Street's forecast of nearly 5% growth and earnings of $2.97 [5] - CFO John David Rainey indicated a cautious approach due to an unstable economic backdrop, despite no significant changes in consumer behavior [5] Operational Highlights - Quarterly same-store sales in the US grew by 4.6%, surpassing estimates of 4.3%, driven by e-commerce strength and a 2.6% increase in transactions [6]

It seems conservative consumers would rather press mainstream brands to hew to their views than buy politically charged coffee beans or SIM cards https://t.co/oNwYlON6W4Photo: Reuters https://t.co/t1yUOl5j6I ...

Concerts have roared back to life in China. Spending on experiences is rising in spite of, or perhaps even because of, a gloomy economic outlook https://t.co/Tl9Wp6LbhC ...

What if I told you that the biggest and most successful businesses in the world didn't start with money, investors or factories, but they started with identity. Identity is who we are, where we come from, what struggles we face, what we care about, and often it is the very foundation a business can stand on. If I took away every brand you use to express yourself, would you still recognize who you are.Today, businesses don't sell products. They sell versions of you. Here's the simple truth.We want belonging. ...

[Music] Imagine a grocery store employee getting lost trying to show you where something is. Frustrating, right. I know.And for that reason, I have to confess. I spent my college years leading customers astray at Whole Foods. After graduating, I began my career in web design, yet found myself just as lost navigating the internet.Maybe I'm bad at picking jobs. Or maybe this confusion pointed to something deeper. One master's degree later, with the experience of working in tech and retail under my belt, I've ...

These are the lessons consumer companies are taking from their male customers. https://t.co/2N4oyCikOv ...

Some consumers are using seasonal sales, usually geared toward gift buying and the occasional personal indulgence, to restock on essentials. https://t.co/bKq0Otub1p ...

Market Trends - Big spirits companies are experiencing sales growth in smaller liquor bottles [1] - This trend reflects consumers' desire for treats even when on a budget [1]