Core Insights - The J.M. Smucker Company is expected to experience a decline in both revenue and earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with revenue estimated at $2.12 billion, reflecting a 0.2% decrease from the previous year [1] - The earnings consensus has increased by 4.3% over the past 30 days to $1.94 per share, indicating a 20.5% drop compared to the same quarter last year [2] Group 1: Factors Impacting Performance - The company's first-quarter results are anticipated to be negatively affected by a challenging consumer environment characterized by inflation and reduced discretionary spending, which are altering purchasing behaviors [3] - Categories such as sweet baked goods are facing slower recovery than expected, leading to anticipated softness in the sweet baked snacks segment due to category and channel challenges [4] - Concerns arise from potential increases in selling, distribution, and administrative (SD&A) costs, which may indicate higher marketing investments that could pose margin risks despite being essential for brand engagement [5] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Despite the challenges, the resilience of certain categories and effective execution of growth strategies are expected to provide some support to the company's performance in the upcoming quarter [6] - The company's strategic priorities include focusing on volume and net sales growth, operational excellence, and resource allocation to capitalize on the fastest growth opportunities [6] Group 3: Earnings Predictions - The current model suggests a likelihood of an earnings beat for The J.M. Smucker Company, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +1.77% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [7]

Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Dollar General (DG) , which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Discount Stores industry, could be a great candidate to consider.When looking at the last two reports, this discount retailer has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 16.54%, on average, in the last two quarters.For the last reported quar ...

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended July 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.The earnings report, which is expected to be released on August 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectatio ...

Core Viewpoint - Kohl's Corporation is expected to report declines in both revenue and earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, with sales estimated at $3.48 billion, reflecting a 6.9% decrease year-over-year, and earnings per share projected at 33 cents, down 44.1% from the previous year [1]. Group 1: Earnings Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kohl's quarterly sales is currently pegged at $3.48 billion, indicating a 6.9% decrease from the year-ago quarter [1]. - The consensus mark for earnings for the fiscal second quarter has remained stable at 33 cents a share, reflecting a year-over-year plunge of 44.1% [1]. - Kohl's has delivered an average earnings surprise of 18.8% over the trailing four quarters, with a notable earnings surprise of 40.9% in the last reported fiscal quarter [2]. Group 2: Factors Impacting Performance - Ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty and a cautious consumer environment are significant challenges for Kohl's, particularly affecting its digital business and home category sales [3]. - The company is facing external headwinds such as shifting consumer behavior and unpredictable tariff developments, leading to a projected comparable sales decline of 5.6% in the upcoming quarter [4]. - Despite these challenges, Kohl's has made progress in underpenetrated categories like home decor, gifting, and baby products, which may provide some cushion in the fiscal second quarter [5]. Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - Kohl's is focusing on strategic growth initiatives, including enhancing customer experience, optimizing inventory, and effective cost management, which is expected to result in a 6.1% reduction in SG&A costs for the second quarter [6]. - The strategic partnership with Sephora is anticipated to have a positive impact on performance in the upcoming quarter [5]. Group 4: Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for Kohl's, as it has an Earnings ESP of -20.17% and a Zacks Rank of 3, indicating a neutral outlook [7].

Key Takeaways Chewy's Q2 performance likely boosted by digital upgrades, assortments and expansion efforts.Autoship growth, healthcare services and Chewy+ launch are driving stronger customer adoption.Net sales per active customer estimated at $589, up 4.2% from the prior-year quarter.Chewy, Inc. ((CHWY) is likely to report top and bottom-line growth when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2025 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly sales is currently pegged at $3.1 billion, showing a 7.8% increa ...

Core Insights - Target Corporation is set to release its second-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings on August 20, with projected revenues of $24.91 billion, reflecting a 2.1% decline year-over-year, and earnings expected at $2.09 per share, indicating an 18.7% drop from the previous year [1][7]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is $24.91 billion, down 2.1% from the same period last year [1][7]. - Earnings per share are projected at $2.09, a decrease of 18.7% compared to the year-ago quarter [1][7]. - The company has a trailing four-quarter average negative earnings surprise of 3.2%, with the last quarter's earnings missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.8% [2]. Earnings Estimates - Current quarter earnings estimate stands at $2.09, with a year-over-year growth estimate of -18.68% [3]. - The number of estimates for the current quarter is 13, with a high estimate of $2.48 and a low estimate of $1.90 [3]. - Comparable sales are expected to decrease by 3.3%, with average transaction amounts and the number of transactions anticipated to drop by 1.3% and 2%, respectively [11]. Strategic Initiatives - Target's synergistic approach, including a strong brand presence and expanding e-commerce capabilities, is expected to support second-quarter performance [8]. - Investments in AI-driven innovation and operational efficiencies through supply-chain improvements are anticipated to bolster results [8]. - Ongoing digitization efforts, such as same-day delivery and curbside pickup, are likely to enhance customer engagement and digital penetration [9]. Challenges - Target faces challenges with weakening store traffic and declining comparable sales, indicating softer consumer engagement in physical retail [10]. - Margin pressures from markdown activities, rising digital fulfillment expenses, and tariff exposure are likely to impact profitability [10].

Core Viewpoint - The retail sector is under scrutiny as major retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target prepare to report earnings amidst challenges such as tariffs, inflation, and changing consumer habits [1] Retail Sector Overview - Traditional retail ETFs, such as SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) and VanEck Vectors Retail ETF (RTH), have seen gains of approximately 12.7% and 5.9% respectively over the past three months [2] - Retail sales in July rose less than expected, indicating potential strain on household budgets, despite some companies reporting resilient consumer spending [3] - Earnings growth for the retail sector is projected at 12.6% with a revenue growth of 5.6% [5] Company-Specific Insights Walmart - Walmart has an Earnings ESP of +1.26% and a Zacks Rank of 2, with a positive earnings estimate revision of $0.01 for Q2 fiscal 2026 [7] - As the largest retailer, Walmart's earnings are seen as a key indicator of consumer health, particularly in groceries and essentials [8] Home Depot - Home Depot has an Earnings ESP of +0.35% and a Zacks Rank of 3, with no earnings estimate revision in the past 30 days [9] - The company has experienced a softening demand for big-ticket home improvement projects due to housing affordability issues [11] Lowe's - Lowe's has an Earnings ESP of -0.56% and a Zacks Rank of 3, with a negative earnings estimate revision of $0.01 [10] - The company has delivered an average earnings surprise of 3.22% over the last four quarters [10] Target - Target has an Earnings ESP of -3.05% and a Zacks Rank of 3, with a negative earnings estimate revision of a couple of cents [12] - The company is balancing discretionary categories against stable grocery demand, with a focus on cost management and promotional strategies [13] ETF Insights SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) - SPDR S&P Retail ETF tracks the S&P Retail Select Industry Index and holds 76 diversified stocks, with no single stock exceeding a 2% share [14] - The ETF has an asset under management (AUM) of $429.2 million and an average trading volume of 6.1 million shares [15] VanEck Vectors Retail ETF (RTH) - VanEck Vectors Retail ETF tracks the MVIS US Listed Retail 25 Index, focusing on the largest retail firms [16] - The ETF has an AUM of $255.5 million and trades an average of 4,000 shares daily [17]

Core Insights - National Bank of Canada (NTIOF) has a strong history of beating earnings estimates and is well-positioned for future earnings growth [1][3] - The bank's average surprise for the last two quarters was 13.27%, indicating consistent performance above expectations [1][2] Earnings Performance - In the most recent quarter, National Bank of Canada reported earnings of $1.71 per share, missing the expected $2 per share by 16.96% [2] - For the previous quarter, the bank exceeded expectations by reporting $2.06 per share against a consensus estimate of $1.88 per share, resulting in a surprise of 9.57% [2] Earnings Estimates - There has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for National Bank of Canada, with a positive Earnings ESP of +9.84%, suggesting analysts are optimistic about the company's earnings prospects [3][6] - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) indicates a strong likelihood of another earnings beat in the upcoming report [6] Predictive Metrics - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [4] - The Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, reflecting the latest analyst revisions [5]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year decline in earnings for VNET Group despite higher revenues, with a focus on how actual results will compare to estimates impacting stock price [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - VNET Group is expected to report earnings of $0.02 per share, reflecting a 66.7% decrease year-over-year, while revenues are projected to be $321.33 million, an increase of 17.1% from the previous year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating stability in analyst assessments [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model shows that the Most Accurate Estimate matches the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of 0%, suggesting no recent differing analyst views [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, VNET Group was expected to post a loss of $0.01 per share but instead reported a loss of $0.12, resulting in a surprise of -1,100.00% [13]. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates twice [14]. Investment Considerations - VNET Group does not appear to be a strong candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider other factors when making investment decisions ahead of the earnings release [17].

Core Insights - Dillard's, Inc. is expected to report a year-over-year revenue increase of 1.4% for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, with estimated revenues of $1.51 billion, while earnings per share are projected to decline by 17.4% to $3.79 [1][6] Group 1: Financial Performance - The consensus estimate for Dillard's second-quarter revenues indicates a rise from the previous year, while earnings are expected to show a significant decline [1] - In the last reported quarter, Dillard's achieved an earnings surprise of 14.2%, with an average earnings surprise of 12.7% over the trailing four quarters [2] - The company is predicted to experience a 26.2% year-over-year decline in operating profit, with a contraction of 180 basis points in the operating margin [6] Group 2: Growth Drivers - Dillard's strategic efforts, including inventory management, store and e-commerce expansion, and trendy merchandise, are expected to drive its second-quarter results [3][4] - The company is focusing on enhancing brand relationships, remodeling stores, and optimizing its activewear segment, which is anticipated to widen its customer base and boost overall sales [5][9] - Comparable-store sales are projected to rise by 1.3% year over year, while retail sales are expected to grow by 1.1% for the fiscal second quarter [5] Group 3: Market Position and Valuation - Dillard's is trading at a premium compared to industry and historical benchmarks, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 1.15X, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.34X [8] - The company's stock has gained 23.6% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 16.8% [10]