A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Sprouts Farmers (SFM) . Shares have added about 7.8% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Sprouts Farmers due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. before we dive into how investors and a ...

Shoppers are increasingly choosing the convenience of ordering groceries online rather than visiting stores in person. This shift is triggering major changes across Kroger's business, leading to significant closures and job cuts. The continued rise in popularity of online shopping is transforming consumer habits and the retail industry. With the ability to fill a digital cart and schedule a convenient pickup or delivery time, many customers see little need to step inside a store. According to Capital One ...

RT Haseeb ＞|＜ (@hosseeb)In Defense of ExponentialsI used to tell founders, the reaction you are going to get to your launch is not hate, it’s indifference. By default, nobody cares about your new chain.I have to stop telling them that now. Monad just launched this week, and I’ve never seen so much hate about a blockchain that just launched. I’ve been investing into crypto professionally for 7+ years now. Before 2023, almost every chain I’ve ever seen that launched was mostly met with enthusiasm or indiffere ...

Adobe reports that consumers spent nearly $80 billion online in the first 23 days of November, up 7.5% over last year, signaling an early, and strong start to the holiday season. https://t.co/Jc89Q5sZ3E ...

After a volatile retail earnings week, the group now heads into its next big test. Whether demand holds up beyond Black Friday. Courtney Reagan joins us now with much more on what to expect.Hey Court. >> Hi Frank. So the next five days are the most important stretch of the year for retail.Adobe says 17% of total online holiday spending will happen during Cyber Week, but physical stores remain a big part of the equation, too. The National Retail Federation predicts 186.9% million Americans will shop in some ...

Core Viewpoint - Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD) has shown strong performance over the past year and is expected to maintain this momentum, making it an attractive investment opportunity [1]. Performance Overview - EXPD stock has gained 30.2% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the transportation-services industry, which has seen a decline of 0.1% [2][7]. - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong investment potential [4]. Earnings Estimates and Revisions - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2025 earnings has increased by 12.5% over the past 60 days, while the current year's earnings estimate has been revised upward by 6.36% [5][10]. - EXPD has a positive earnings surprise history, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters with an average beat of 13.94% [9]. Growth Factors - E-commerce growth is a significant driver for Expeditors, leading to increased demand for intermodal services, which is expected to continue supporting the company's growth [10]. - The company's strong financial position enables it to pursue growth through acquisitions and reward shareholders with dividends and share buybacks [11].

Core Insights - The competitive landscape between Procter & Gamble (PG) and Church & Dwight (CHD) highlights contrasting business models, with PG being a market leader and CHD as a value-driven challenger [1][2] Procter & Gamble (PG) - PG has achieved its 40th consecutive quarter of organic sales growth, with Q1 fiscal 2026 revenues reaching $22.39 billion, reflecting its dominance in the consumer products sector [3] - The company’s portfolio includes 10 daily-use categories, with eight showing growth or stability in organic sales, driven by strong brands like Tide, Pampers, and Gillette [4] - PG's management is focusing on an integrated superiority strategy, enhancing product performance and innovation, as seen in significant upgrades to Tide and Pampers [5][6] - Financially, PG reported a 3% increase in core EPS and a free cash flow productivity of 102%, with plans to return approximately $15 billion to shareholders in fiscal 2026 [7] Church & Dwight (CHD) - CHD reported a 5% net sales growth in Q3 2025, with organic sales up 3.4%, primarily due to a 4% increase in volume [8][9] - The company is expanding its market share with strong performance from brands like THERABREATH and ARM & HAMMER, and it achieved 7.7% organic growth internationally [10] - CHD's marketing investment increased to 12.8% of sales, supporting new product launches and acquisitions, such as TOUCHLAND, which targets younger consumers [11] - Financially, CHD's adjusted EPS grew by 2.5% in Q3, with cash flow growth of 19.6%, and it has reduced its expected tariff impact for 2025 [12] Comparative Analysis - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates PG's fiscal 2026 sales and EPS growth at 3.2% and 2.6%, respectively, while CHD's estimates suggest 1.6% sales growth and 1.2% EPS growth for 2025 [13][16] - Year-to-date, PG's stock has declined by 11.4%, while CHD's has fallen by 19.6%, with both trading below historical P/E medians [17][18] - PG is trading at a forward P/E of 20.7, while CHD's is at 22.38, reflecting CHD's premium valuation due to its consistent market share growth [18][19] Conclusion - Both companies face challenges in the current market, but PG offers stability and a valuation discount, while CHD presents a higher growth potential with a focus on share gains [20][24]

Summary of Alibaba Group (BABA) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Alibaba Group (BABA) - **Market Cap**: $385.8 billion - **Price Target**: $197.00 (12-month) with current price at $160.73, indicating an upside of 22.6% [6][1] Key Industry Insights - **Cloud Growth**: Alibaba's cloud segment reported a growth of 34% year-over-year (yoy), with internal cloud revenue growth at 53% yoy and external at 29% yoy, surpassing the overall growth estimate of 31% [2][26] - **AI CapEx**: Capital expenditures (CapEx) increased by 80% yoy to Rmb32 billion, contrasting with Tencent's decline in CapEx, indicating Alibaba's aggressive investment strategy in AI infrastructure [2][27] - **eCommerce Performance**: eCommerce CMR growth was reported at 10% yoy, with underlying profits showing slight growth despite a decline in group EBITA by 78% yoy [1][20] Financial Performance Highlights - **EBITDA**: Projected EBITDA for FY26E is Rmb142.5 billion, down from previous estimates due to slower CMR growth [6][12] - **Net Income**: Adjusted net profit forecasts for FY26E-FY28E were revised down by 12% to +4% due to slower CMR growth and increased reinvestments in eCommerce [22][30] - **Quick Commerce Losses**: Estimated losses for quick commerce are expected to narrow to Rmb23 billion in the December quarter, down from Rmb36 billion in September [20][29] Strategic Focus Areas - **AI and Cloud Strategy**: Alibaba aims to enhance its AI capabilities and cloud services, with AI revenues now constituting 20% of external revenues, showing triple-digit growth for nine consecutive quarters [2][26] - **User Experience in Quick Commerce**: The company is focused on improving user experience and aims to generate an additional Rmb1 trillion in GMV over three years [29][30] - **Competitive Landscape**: Management expressed concerns over increased competition in the eCommerce sector, leading to a forecasted moderation in CMR growth to 6% for the upcoming quarters [20][30] Risks and Challenges - **Market Competition**: The eCommerce market remains highly competitive, with potential GMV share losses to rivals like Douyin and Pinduoduo [25][32] - **Geopolitical Risks**: Concerns regarding foreign chip supply and geopolitical tensions could impact Alibaba's operations and growth [25][32] - **Execution Risks**: There are risks associated with the execution of strategic investments and the potential for slower-than-expected monetization in China retail [32][32] Conclusion - **Investment Recommendation**: Maintain a "Buy" rating on Alibaba Group, with a focus on its AI and cloud growth potential, despite challenges in the eCommerce segment [1][22] - **Valuation Scenarios**: The base case valuation is set at $197, with a bull case of $267 and a bear case of $134, reflecting varying expectations of growth and market conditions [33][34]

Summary of the Conference Call Company/Industry Involved - Focus on the **China Equity Market** and its outlook for **2026** as discussed by **Morgan Stanley**. Core Points and Arguments 1. **Investor Sentiment**: Investors are cautiously optimistic about China, seeking signs of bullish trends while being wary of rising volatility. A significant improvement in fiscal policy and US-China relations could enhance this outlook [2][3][4]. 2. **Structural Improvements**: The Chinese equity market is experiencing structural improvements, including: - Bottoming out of structural Return on Equity (ROE) due to corporate self-health efforts and a shift towards higher quality, larger cap, and innovative companies [5]. - Enhanced business environment for the private sector and entrepreneurs [5]. - Government's commitment to cushion against economic downturns [5]. - Stabilization of geopolitical dynamics, particularly between the US and China [5]. 3. **Market Valuation**: The current market valuation is considered fair after a significant re-rating in 2025, with MSCI China's valuation increasing from approximately 10x to 13x, representing over a 30% uplift [6][10]. 4. **Earnings Growth Forecast**: Consensus forecasts a 15% earnings growth for MSCI China, while Morgan Stanley projects a more conservative 7% due to uncertainties in e-commerce recovery and lackluster housing sales [12]. 5. **Volatility Concerns**: The Chinese equity market has entered a higher-volatility state since October, but concerns about a major correction are minimal on a 12-month basis due to low correlation with the US market [13]. 6. **Potential Catalysts for Bullishness**: Positive developments that could enhance bullish sentiment include: - Improvement in US-China relations, highlighted by a recent call between the two presidents [15]. - More aggressive fiscal policies, particularly regarding housing inventory [15]. - Breakthroughs in technology that expand market opportunities for Chinese companies [16]. Other Important but Overlooked Content 1. **Foreign Investor Interest**: There is a notable increase in foreign investor interest in the Chinese equity market, as evidenced by oversubscribed events and positive feedback from institutional investors [17]. 2. **Market Dynamics**: The shift in global investor perception from viewing China as a deflationary story to one focused on innovation and technology breakthroughs is significant [10]. 3. **Cautious Optimism**: While there is a cautious optimism regarding inflows into the Chinese market, the need for clearer signs of consumption stabilization is emphasized [12][17]. This summary encapsulates the key insights and sentiments expressed during the conference call regarding the outlook for the Chinese equity market in 2026.

Retailers gearing up for the most critical stretch of the year. It kicks off when Thanksgiving dinner winds down. Courtney Reagan joins us now with more.Where are you going to be on Friday, Courtney. That's always that's always >> I'm going to be I'm going to be at a mall. A mall in New Jersey, you know, checking out the deals, probably doing a little self-gifting along the way.It's a good time of the year to stock up. Just saying. I mean, like you pointed out, Andrew, these next five days, really truly the ...