what's going on here. What are some of the inputs and how striking was this data to you. >> Yeah, I think I have a a little bit of a less optimistic view of the consumer than Michelle was talking about earlier.So, yeah, broad-based decline in consumer confidence in November uh across jobs, incomes and uh financial situation expectations and uh that is probably due to a government shutdown. remember we were still uh you know in a shutdown uh kind of mode uh during most of November and uh I think we will see ...

Core Insights - Global inflation remains persistent, leading to a decline in discretionary spending, which significantly impacts retailers [1] - Retailers face weaker pricing and increased cost pressures, affecting even those with strong brand recognition [1] Industry Summary - The logistics sector is experiencing challenges due to inflation and changing consumer spending patterns [1] - Retailers are often the first to feel the effects of economic downturns, resulting in a ripple effect across various sectors [1] Company Summary - Companies with established domestic footprints are not immune to the pressures of inflation and changing consumer behavior [1] - The article highlights the importance of diversification in investment portfolios, particularly in sectors like banking, telecommunications, logistics, and hotels [1]

This morning, though, we get results from Target. Target and target narratives, profit forecasts, as we were talking about discounts and slowing demand weighing on earnings. Bloomberg retail reporter Emily Cohen joins us now.So what are we learning about the consumer that we're already a little bit worried about, Emily. Yeah, I mean, Target is seeing a consumer that is shopping. It's spending, not leaning into the the discretionary things that target is known for.The the retailer trimmed its forecast again ...

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Core Viewpoint - Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. is considering a public listing on Indian stock exchanges, which would position it as India's second-largest listed IT services company, following Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) [1][2] Company Strategy - Cognizant's board and management are evaluating opportunities to enhance shareholder value, including a potential primary offering and secondary listing in India, with legal and financial advisors involved [2][3] - The company ended the previous year with $19.74 billion in revenue and has a significant workforce in India, with over two-thirds of its 241,500 employees based there [2] Market Valuation - The motivation behind the potential India listing is attributed to better valuation opportunities in the Indian market, where Cognizant's price-to-earnings ratio is around 13, compared to 22-23 for local firms like TCS and Infosys [4][5] Industry Context - Cognizant's potential listing follows the upcoming public listing of Carlyle-backed Hexaware Technologies Ltd. in February 2025, indicating a trend of American firms seeking to tap into the Indian market [6] Financial Performance - Cognizant reported better-than-expected performance for the July-September period, with revenue of $5.42 billion, reflecting a 3.24% sequential increase and a 7.36% year-over-year growth, surpassing analyst estimates [7][8] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $21.05-$21.1 billion, indicating a projected annual growth of 6.6%-6.9%, up from a previous range of 4.7%-6.7% [11] Growth Dynamics - Cognizant's organic growth has improved as reliance on acquisitions has decreased, with year-on-year growth rates of 8.2%, 7.2%, and 6.5% in the first three quarters of the year [12][13] - The Belcan acquisition contributed significantly to growth in earlier quarters, but its impact has diminished, suggesting a shift towards more sustainable growth strategies [13][14] Operational Insights - The company's net profit declined by over half sequentially to $274 million due to higher one-time income tax expenses [15] - Operating margin increased by 40 basis points to 16%, attributed to a depreciating Indian rupee and disciplined expense management [16] Workforce and Hiring Practices - Cognizant's employee count rose to 349,800, an increase of 6,000 from the previous quarter, amidst scrutiny over hiring practices in the US [17][18] - The company has reduced its dependency on visas and increased local hiring, mitigating potential impacts from recent US policy changes [19][20]

Joining us now is David Steinberg. He's the CEO of Zeta Global. David, we're gonna maybe brand this as David Zeta data.What do you think. >> I don't know. My my wife and kids might like it, but the uh you know, as you've said, in the current environment, getting access to data is getting harder.And what we're seeing is more and more people looking at private indicacies like the Zeta Economic Index. Yeah, because with you know and now there's all this also it's not just that government data may not happen Da ...

Core Insights - The current economic environment shows a disparity in spending habits, with wealthier individuals increasing their spending while others are reducing discretionary expenses [3][7] - There is a notable decline in consumer interest in credit, with a 22% drop from July to August, impacting larger purchases for non-wealthy consumers [5][10] - Essential spending is on the rise, which is helping to maintain overall economic growth despite the drop in discretionary spending [6][7] Economic Indicators - The Zeta Economic Index decreased by four points from July to August, indicating a potential slowdown, but GDP is still expected to grow at or above 2% for the remainder of the year [6][7] - Essential items are being purchased at a greater rate, offsetting declines in discretionary spending and contributing to GDP growth [7][11] - Labor Day sales are anticipated to provide a boost in retail activity for September [8] Consumer Behavior - There is an increasing aversion to risk among consumers, which is reflected in their spending patterns [3][4][11] - The automotive sector has seen a decline in spending, with a noted drop of four points [4] - Consumers are still willing to spend on essential items, which is crucial for maintaining economic stability [10][11]

Core Insights - Carnival Corporation (CCL) raised its full-year outlook for the third time in 2025 after reporting better-than-expected third-quarter results, with booking volumes significantly outpacing capacity growth [1][8]. Financial Performance - Carnival reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.43 on revenue of $8.15 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.32 EPS and $8.11 billion in revenue [9]. - The company anticipates adjusted net income to be nearly 55% higher than in 2024, amounting to $235 million more than its previous guidance in June [9]. - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be around $7.05 billion, reflecting a 15% increase compared to 2024 and exceeding the June guidance of $6.9 billion [9]. Market Trends - Booking trends have strengthened since May, with higher booking volumes compared to the previous year, significantly outpacing capacity growth [5][4]. - Carnival has nearly half of 2026 booked, aligning with record levels from 2025 but at historically high prices in constant currency for both North America and Europe segments [4]. Revenue Projections - Despite strong bookings, Carnival's projection for passenger revenue fell short of analysts' estimates, with expected net yields rising by 5.3% in 2025, compared to the 5.79% increase anticipated by analysts [3][8]. - Net yields increased by 4.6% year-over-year in the third quarter [5].

Core Insights - Costco's stock experienced a 2.5% decline following the release of its fourth-quarter results, which, while solid, did not meet the high expectations set by its valuation [2][5] - Management's comments regarding a decrease in discretionary spending raised concerns among investors [2][5] Financial Performance - Same-store sales increased by 6.4% after adjusting for fuel prices and currency exchange, leading to total revenue of $86.2 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, surpassing estimates of $86.1 billion [4] - Membership fee income rose by 14% to $1.72 billion, supported by a fee increase implemented a year ago, with global renewal rates at 90% [5] - Earnings per share grew by 11% to $5.87, exceeding the consensus estimate of $5.81 [5][6] Market Position and Valuation - Costco primarily generates revenue from essential items, but higher margins are associated with discretionary products such as electronics and furniture [7] - The company's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is around 50, which may exert pressure on the stock and create elevated expectations for future earnings reports [6][8] Future Outlook - Although management does not provide specific guidance, Costco's results are typically stable from quarter to quarter [8] - The company remains resilient, but it is not immune to potential economic downturns [8]

Tourism Industry Trends - Las Vegas experienced a 7% decrease in visitor numbers during the first half of the year [1] Economic Implications - The decline in visitors could be a potential warning sign for the economy due to the discretionary nature of tourism spending in Las Vegas [1]