Levi Strauss & Co has recently named Vicky Skelton, an experienced executive within the company, as the new Managing Director for East Asia Pacific. This move comes as part of the denim giant’s strategy to boost growth in this key region.Vicky Skelton’s New RoleSkelton will assume responsibility for supervising all commercial operations across a variety of channels in her new position. She will lead the charge in driving sustainable, long-term growth throughout the East Asia Pacific. This is a region where ...

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corporation are two leading players in the global retail sector, each with distinct business models and strategies [1][2][3] Walmart Overview - Walmart operates over 10,750 stores globally, including supercenters and discount stores, and is expanding its e-commerce and digital advertising platforms [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $884.2 billion and is focusing on enhancing its omnichannel retail capabilities through its extensive store network [3][4] - Walmart's global e-commerce sales increased by 27% in Q3 of fiscal 2026, with U.S. e-commerce up 28% and international sales up 26% [5] - The shift towards higher-margin revenue streams, including advertising and membership income, now accounts for approximately one-third of Walmart's consolidated adjusted operating income [6] - Investments in technology and automation are central to Walmart's strategy, improving fulfillment efficiency and maintaining price leadership [7] - International operations are contributing to growth, particularly in Mexico, China, and India, although the company faces challenges such as intense competition and cost pressures [8] Costco Overview - Costco operates on a membership-based model, generating stable high-margin revenues from membership fees and maintaining competitive pricing through bulk purchasing [9][10] - The company reported over 20% growth in digitally enabled comparable sales in Q1 of fiscal 2026, driven by increased website traffic and app engagement [11] - Operational efficiency is a key advantage, with productivity gains from technology improving checkout speed and inventory management [12] - Despite its durable business model, Costco faces challenges from thin merchandise margins and fluctuating demand for discretionary items [13] Financial Performance and Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart's current fiscal-year sales suggests a year-over-year increase of 4.6%, with EPS expected to rise by 4.8% [14] - For Costco, the current fiscal-year sales and EPS estimates imply year-over-year growth of 7.5% and 11.7%, respectively [17] - Over the past year, Walmart's shares have increased by 19.7%, while Costco's shares have declined by 10.8% [20] Valuation Comparison - Walmart trades at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 38.19, while Costco has a forward P/E of 41.38, indicating a relative valuation discount for Costco compared to its historical average [23] Investment Outlook - Walmart is positioned as a stronger option for investors seeking momentum and earnings diversification, while Costco remains a solid long-term investment focused on stability and consistency [24]

Financial Performance - Underlying net income reached $1.047 billion, a 3% increase year-over-year[163, 182] - Reported net income was $1.106 billion, an 18% decrease year-over-year[163, 182] - New business CSM increased by 16% to $446 million, driven by strong sales in Asia[163, 182] - Total AUM increased by 7% year-over-year to $1.623 trillion[6, 29, 182] Business Segment Highlights - Asset management & wealth underlying net income increased by 5% year-over-year to $500 million[29, 182] - Individual - Protection underlying net income increased by 25% year-over-year to $361 million[29, 182] - Group - Health & Protection underlying net income decreased by 18% year-over-year to $284 million[29, 182] Capital Management - SLF Inc's LICAT ratio increased to 154%, up 3 percentage points from the previous quarter[29, 83, 182] - The financial leverage ratio is at 21.6%[29, 83, 182] - Holdco cash stands at $2.1 billion[33, 83]

Core Insights - The Kroger Co. reported second-quarter fiscal 2025 results that exceeded earnings expectations but fell short on sales, driven by strengths in e-commerce, pharmacy, and fresh offerings, leading to an upward revision in sales and earnings outlook for the fiscal year [1][10][12] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were $1.04 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.00 and improving from 93 cents in the prior-year quarter [2] - Total sales for the quarter were $33,940 million, nearly flat year over year, but below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $34,123 million; excluding fuel and divested pharmacy business, sales increased by 3.8% year over year [3] - E-commerce sales increased by 16% year over year, following a 15% gain in the first quarter, indicating successful digital investments [4] Margin and Profitability - Gross margin expanded to 22.5%, up from 22.1% in the year-ago quarter, supported by reduced supply-chain costs and lower shrink [5] - Adjusted FIFO operating profit reached $1,091 million, up from $984 million in the previous year, while reported operating profit was $863 million compared to $815 million last year [6] Financial Position - Kroger ended the quarter with cash and temporary cash investments totaling $4,883 million, total debt of $17,959 million, and shareholders' equity of $9,277 million [7] - The net total debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio was 1.63, up from 1.24 a year ago, remaining below the target range of 2.30-2.50, indicating financial flexibility [8] Guidance and Outlook - The company raised its full-year guidance for identical sales growth without fuel to 2.7-3.4%, up from 2.25-3.25% [10] - Adjusted EPS guidance was increased to a range of $4.70 to $4.80, up from the previous $4.60-$4.80 [11] Strategic Execution - The results reflect Kroger's ability to navigate a competitive retail environment through digital acceleration, fresh assortment, and cost efficiencies, positioning the company for sustained shareholder value creation [12]