US job cuts this year have topped 1 million, the most since 2020 when the COVID pandemic rocked the global economy. [music] According to consulting firm Challenger Gray in Christmas, layoff plans totaled 71,321 in November. Challenger said that's not as high as the massive cuts announced in October, but it still pushed the total so far this year to 1.17% [music] million, and that's 54% higher than the same 11-month period a year ago.The most cited reason for the November layoffs was restructuring, followed ...

LAS VEGAS, NV, Dec. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Real estate is driven by a variety of factors, including both macro-economic conditions and seasonal variability, not to mention the more unpredictable drivers of supply and demand. In her new market report https://www.lasvegashomesbyleslie.com/blog/las-vegas-fall-2025-real-estate-market-part-1.html, award-winning Las Vegas real estate agent Leslie Hoke of Las Vegas Homes By Leslie - RE/MAX United Realtor examines the early-Autumn 2025 Las Vegas real estate ...

Here are the average year-over-year inflation rates by president, and the events and economic conditions that contributed to them. https://t.co/zFo5sXQdul ...

Company Overview - Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) is headquartered in Calhoun, Georgia, and specializes in designing, manufacturing, sourcing, distributing, and marketing flooring products for both residential and commercial applications, as well as new construction markets. The company has a market cap of $6.8 billion and offers a diverse range of products including ceramic and porcelain tiles, natural stone, carpets, rugs, laminate, luxury vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, wood flooring, and countertops [1]. Stock Performance - MHK shares have underperformed the broader market over the past year, declining by 20.1%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by nearly 11%. Year-to-date in 2025, MHK stock is down 7.7%, compared to a 12.3% rise in the S&P 500 [2]. - Compared to the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB), which has declined about 16.9% over the past year, MHK's performance remains weaker, with the ETF showing a 4.8% loss year-to-date [3]. Financial Performance - In Q3, MHK reported an adjusted EPS of $2.67, which fell short of Wall Street expectations of $2.68. The company's revenue was $2.8 billion, exceeding the forecast of $2.7 billion. For Q4, MHK anticipates adjusted EPS to be between $1.90 and $2.00 [5]. - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts expect MHK's EPS to decline by 7.8% to $8.94 on a diluted basis. The company's earnings surprise history is mixed, having beaten consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters [6]. Analyst Ratings - Among the 18 analysts covering MHK stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of nine "Strong Buy" ratings and nine "Holds." This is an improvement from two months ago when only eight analysts suggested a "Strong Buy" [6][7]. - Stephen Kim from Evercore ISI maintained a "Hold" rating on MHK with a price target of $118, indicating a potential upside of 7.3% from current levels [7].

Core Insights - The article discusses three major stocks that have significantly declined this year, highlighting their current challenges and potential for recovery. Group 1: Lululemon Athletica - Lululemon's stock has dropped 58% this year, reaching levels not seen since March 2020, with a current P/E multiple of 11, indicating a potentially cheap valuation [4][6] - The company faces concerns over tariffs and a slowdown in discretionary spending, which could impact sales despite its strong brand appeal among younger consumers [3][4] - Comparable sales growth was only 1% in the most recent quarter, and recovery may depend on economic conditions, with expectations for a turnaround taking at least one to two years [6] Group 2: Target - Target's stock has decreased by 33% this year, with net sales of $25.2 billion down approximately 1% in its last earnings report [7][8] - The company is undergoing significant restructuring, including 1,800 corporate layoffs, under new CEO Michael Fiddelke, who aims to improve profitability [8][10] - Target's stock trades at 10 times earnings, suggesting a margin of safety, and there is potential for recovery within one to two years [10] Group 3: Kimberly-Clark - Kimberly-Clark's shares have fallen over 20% this year, reaching their lowest price since 2018, primarily due to its planned acquisition of Kenvue for $48.7 billion [11][12] - The acquisition poses challenges, including taking on liabilities related to talc-based products and other controversies surrounding Kenvue's brands [12] - Trading at 17 times trailing earnings, Kimberly-Clark is considered the most expensive among the three stocks discussed, with a challenging path to recovery [13]

Market Outlook & Economic Trends - Market reflects anticipation of a negotiated resolution to the government shutdown in the coming weeks [3] - Weak economic data suggests the Federal Reserve will likely implement a rate cut in December [3] - Cyclical sectors of the S&P 500 have experienced a significant collapse in relative price, nearing 35-year lows, indicating weakening economic conditions since the government shutdown [5] - Material stocks have plummeted since the shutdown, correlating with CPI inflation [6] - The economy is expected to slow, leading to broad easing from both monetary and fiscal authorities [9] Investment Strategy & Market Performance - Lower rates on short rates, lower bond yields, and a weaker dollar have been observed this year, alongside faster money growth [9] - High beta stocks, small-cap and micro-cap stocks, and international stocks are showing better results, reflecting policy changes [10] - Leadership is expected to emerge in high beta, small-cap, micro-cap, and international stocks [11] Economic Indicators & Concerns - ADP numbers are flat over the last 3 months [2] - Challenger layoffs have surged recently [3] - Consumer confidence is declining significantly [3]

Inflation Analysis - The report provides average year-over-year inflation rates by president [1] - It also discusses the events and economic conditions that contributed to these rates [1] Data Source - The data is available at the provided URL: https://t.co/ijXOupbjWd [1]

Core Insights - Targa Resources Corp. is a significant player in the midstream energy sector, focusing on the collection, treatment, transportation, storage, and export of natural gas and natural gas liquids [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $32.5 billion and operates primarily in the Gulf Coast and other high-production regions across North America [2] Financial Performance - Analysts project Targa's profit for the third quarter to grow by 26.9% year-over-year to $2.22 per diluted share, with expectations for the current fiscal year profit to increase by 38.9% to $7.97 per diluted share and further rise by 23% to $9.80 in fiscal 2026 [3] - Targa has a mixed record of meeting consensus bottom-line estimates, having beaten estimates in two of the last four quarters while missing in the other two [4] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, Targa's stock has declined by 10%, and 18% year-to-date, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 index, which rose by 13.5% and 12.7% respectively during the same periods [5] - The stock has faced pressure due to shifting commodity prices and broader economic conditions, alongside concerns regarding the growth rate of Permian oil output [6] Strategic Investments - Targa is investing $3.30 billion in the Permian Basin, which includes the construction of the 500-mile Speedway NGL Pipeline and new gas processing plants, expected to be operational by 2027-2028, aimed at enhancing infrastructure and meeting customer needs [7]

Core Insights - Small business optimism in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in three months, with the Small Business Optimism Index declining to 98.8, reflecting growing concerns about the economy [2][6] - The uncertainty index rose by seven points to 100, marking the fourth highest reading in the survey's 51-year history, indicating significant apprehension among business owners [3][6] Economic Conditions - Business owners expressed fears regarding future sales, inflation, supply chain disruptions, and inventory levels, contributing to the decline in optimism [2][4] - Only 23% of business owners expect improved conditions in the future, a drop of 11 percentage points from August [4] Supply Chain and Pricing - Supply chain disruptions affected 64% of small businesses, an increase of 10 percentage points from August, while 7% reported low inventory levels, the largest monthly drop recorded [5][6] - Nearly 25% of small businesses raised prices in September, a three percentage point increase, with 31% planning to raise prices in the next three months [7] Hiring and Profitability - Despite the challenges, hiring plans among small businesses reached their highest levels since January, and the ratio of business owners reporting profits versus losses was the highest since 2021 [7]

Market Sentiment and Underlying Conditions - The market experienced a wakeup call, appearing tired beneath the surface for 3-4 weeks prior to Friday's action [1][2] - Market's interpretation suggests conditions are generally in good shape, with cyclical stocks outperforming defensive stocks and benign credit conditions [3][7][8] - The market sold off due to concerns about escalating trade war with China, specifically potential 100% tariffs [6] Key Levels and Future Outlook - 6,400-6,450 is identified as a good support level, with expectations of one more move higher into year-end [4] - Strategus Research Partners is targeting 7,000 for year-end, but anticipates a potentially more defensive tone taking shape in 2026 [5] - Monitoring the 385 basis points level on 10-year Treasury yields as a potential signal of economic weakening [9] Macroeconomic Factors and Policy Impact - Lower oil prices (at $59 and change) and lower rates should act as stimulus, particularly for consumer stocks in the first quarter of 2026 [10][11] - Deregulatory push across industries, including banks and energy, is a significant factor [12] - Financials have been leaders for 2 years; a shift in the broader story would likely involve a weakening of financials [13] Sector Performance and Leadership - Healthcare is starting to inflect, raising questions about whether this will spread to other defensive sectors like staples and REITs [5] - Weakness is observed in private capital stocks (e.g., Apollo, Owl), while money center banks may gain market share due to deregulation [13][14]