Group 1 - UBS reiterated its Buy rating and $115 price target on Signet Jewelers, citing encouraging indications for U.S. jewelry demand following the holiday season [1] - Investors had been questioning holiday sales trends amid macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds, prompting UBS to host an expert call with the CEO of a private jewelry chain [1] - The expert reported that December month-to-date sales were up in the low single-digit percentage range, moderating from mid-single-digit growth year-to-date as of mid-November [2] Group 2 - The expert viewed December trends as a reliable leading indicator for calendar 2026, suggesting that industry-wide jewelry sales could rise by a low single-digit percentage next year [2] - UBS noted that gross margins were improving despite higher gold prices and tariffs, while promotional activity remained relatively stable year over year [3] - These sales and margin trends were supportive of Signet's earnings outlook, leading UBS to reaffirm its Buy rating [3]

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST) broke records for pie sales this Thanksgiving season, in addition to non-food Black Friday online orders, executives said Thursday on the company's conference call. COST stock is moving. See the chart and price action here. During Costco's earnings call, CEO Ron Vachris reported that the company sold a record-breaking 4.5 million pies in just the three days leading up to Thanksgiving 2025.Here is the breakdown of those numbers and how they compare to previous years:The N ...

Core Insights - A record number of shoppers, approximately 186.9 million, are expected to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, marking an increase of about 3 million from last year [4] - Black Friday remains the largest shopping day, with around 130.4 million shoppers planning to participate, followed by Cyber Monday at 40% and Small Business Saturday at 36% [5] Retail Performance - Costco and Walmart are identified as key winners in the holiday shopping season due to their strong brand presence and ability to offer low prices [6] - Costco's stock is down 2.5% year-to-date with a HOLD rating, while Walmart is up nearly 18% year-to-date, also holding a HOLD rating [7] Consumer Behavior - Direct-to-consumer brands face challenges as consumers increasingly price-check items on platforms like Amazon, leading to heightened price sensitivity [8][9] - Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton are performing well, as the top 10% of earners contribute significantly to consumption despite broader consumer pullbacks [10] Economic Context - The National Retail Federation forecasts total holiday spending to exceed $1 trillion for the first time, with sales growth projected between 3.7% and 4.2% for 2024 [13] - Retail stocks have struggled overall this year, with both consumer discretionary and staples sectors lagging behind the broader market due to economic pressures [14] Notable Retailers - Discount chains such as Dollar General and Dollar Tree have seen stock increases of over 30% this year, while brands like Coca-Cola have gained around 16% [15]

Core Insights - U.S. retailers are increasing discounts on Hershey products in anticipation of Halloween, which is a significant sales period for the company [1] - The price hikes by Hershey are attributed to rising costs from tariffs and inflation in cocoa prices [1] Retail Trends - Retailers are responding to the competitive landscape by offering more promotions on Hershey goods as Halloween approaches [1] - The increase in discounts may indicate a strategy to maintain sales volume despite higher prices [1] Pricing Strategy - Hershey has raised prices to offset increased costs, which could impact consumer purchasing behavior during the holiday season [1] - The company's pricing adjustments reflect broader trends in the confectionery industry, where cost pressures are becoming more pronounced [1]