Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the December quarter increased year-over-year to $505 million, supported by nearly 11% same-store sales growth [11][12] - Gross profit was $160 million, down from the prior year due to margin pressure, with gross margins over 400 basis points below historical levels [13][14] - Reported net loss per share was $0.36, or $0.21 on an adjusted basis, with adjusted EBITDA at $15.5 million [14][15] - The company maintained a strong balance sheet with nearly $165 million in cash and improved current ratio [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same-store sales performance was driven by premium brand offerings and a shift towards larger products, despite unit volume declining by low- to mid-single digits [7][12] - Higher-margin businesses, such as marinas, finance and insurance, and superyacht services, contributed positively to consolidated gross profit [13][31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Market conditions remained challenging with elevated promotional activity and cautious retail behavior affecting demand patterns [6][9] - The company successfully reduced inventory levels by nearly $170 million compared to last year, indicating progress towards normalized inventory levels [8][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to expand into higher-margin, more stable businesses through acquisitions and operational improvements [8][9] - Focus remains on maintaining appropriate inventory levels, delivering high-quality customer experiences, and managing the business with a long-term perspective [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding early demand signals from boat shows, indicating potential for growth in the spring selling season [10][19] - The outlook for fiscal 2026 remains balanced due to ongoing uncertainty in the broader consumer and macroeconomic environment [10][17] Other Important Information - The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance, expecting adjusted EBITDA in the range of $110 million to $125 million and adjusted net income between $0.40 and $0.95 per diluted share [16][17] - Customer deposits remained flat year-over-year, which is seen as a positive sign amid the current environment [15][50] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the assumptions regarding the discounting environment as the selling season progresses? - Management expects the promotional environment to remain active during the winter, with potential improvement in margins as inventory levels normalize in the second half of the fiscal year [21][22] Question: Can you quantify the drivers of the decline in gross margin? - The decline in gross margin is primarily driven by promotional pressures rather than mix, with new boat margins being significantly lower than the previous year [67] Question: How did same-store sales perform throughout the quarter? - Same-store sales were strong throughout the quarter, aided by the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, with expectations for positive growth in January [68] Question: What is the current state of customer deposits? - Customer deposits have stabilized year-over-year, reflecting solid business trends, particularly in larger products [50] Question: How are the boat shows influencing demand across different segments? - Demand at higher price points has been strong, while the lower end remains challenged, but overall trends indicate a cautious recovery in the premium segment [41][42]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the December quarter increased year-over-year to $505 million, supported by nearly 11% same-store sales growth [11][12] - Gross profit was $160 million, down from the prior year due to margin pressure, with gross margins over 400 basis points below historical levels [13][14] - Reported net loss per share was $0.36, or $0.21 on an adjusted basis, with adjusted EBITDA at $15.5 million [14][15] - The balance sheet remained strong with nearly $165 million in cash and a healthy net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of just over 2x [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same-store sales performance was supported by premium brand offerings and a shift towards larger products, despite unit volume declining by low- to mid-single digits [7][12] - Higher-margin businesses, such as marinas, finance and insurance, and super yacht services, contributed positively to consolidated gross profit [13][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Market conditions remained challenging with elevated promotional activity and cautious retail behavior affecting demand patterns [6][9] - The company successfully reduced inventory levels by nearly $170 million compared to last year, indicating progress towards normalized inventory levels [8][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain an appropriate inventory position, deliver a high-quality customer experience, and manage the business with a long-term perspective [9][10] - Continued focus on acquiring complementary, less cyclical, higher-margin operations to build a more durable business model [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding early season demand signals from boat shows, indicating potential for growth in the premium segment [10][19] - The outlook for Fiscal 2026 remains balanced due to ongoing uncertainty in the broader consumer and macroeconomic environment, with expectations for adjusted EBITDA in the range of $110 million-$125 million [16][17] Other Important Information - Customer deposits remained flat year-over-year, which is seen as a positive sign given the current environment [15][50] - The company continues to prioritize maintaining inventory levels and enhancing operational efficiency to support long-term value creation [11][19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the assumptions regarding the discounting environment as the selling season progresses? - Management expects the promotional environment to remain active during the winter, with potential improvement in margins as inventory levels normalize in the second half of the fiscal year [21][22] Question: Can you quantify the drivers of the decline in gross margin? - The decline in gross margin is primarily driven by promotional pressures rather than mix, with new boat margins being significantly lower than the previous year [66] Question: How is demand across various income groups and price points? - Demand at the premium end has been strong, while the lower end remains challenged, with overall consumer sentiment affected by broader economic uncertainty [38][42]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the December quarter increased year-over-year to $505 million, supported by nearly 11% same-store sales growth [10][11] - Gross profit was $160 million, down from the prior year due to margin pressure, with gross margins over 400 basis points below historical levels [11][12] - Reported net loss per share was $0.36, or $0.21 on an adjusted basis, with adjusted EBITDA at $15.5 million [13][15] - The company maintained a strong balance sheet with nearly $165 million in cash and improved current ratio and total liabilities to tangible net worth ratio [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same-store sales performance was supported by premium brand offerings and a shift to larger products, despite unit volume declining by low- to mid-single digits [6][10] - Higher-margin businesses, such as marinas, finance and insurance, and super yacht services, contributed positively to consolidated gross profit [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Market conditions remained challenging with elevated promotional activity and cautious retail behavior affecting demand patterns [5][6] - The company noted that the fiberglass segment continued to be under pressure, impacting overall sales [38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reduce inventory levels, achieving a reduction of nearly $170 million year-over-year, and expects inventory levels to normalize in the second half of the fiscal year [7][15] - The strategy includes acquiring complementary, less cyclical, higher-margin operations to build a more durable business model [7][8] - The company remains focused on maintaining appropriate inventory levels and delivering a high-quality customer experience [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the upcoming spring selling season, noting early positive sentiment from boat shows [9][18] - The outlook for Fiscal 2026 remains balanced due to ongoing uncertainty in the broader consumer and macroeconomic environment [9][15] - Management expects retail margin pressure to persist through the end of the fiscal second quarter, with potential for margin recovery in the second half of the year [15][17] Other Important Information - The company reaffirmed its guidance for Fiscal 2026, expecting adjusted EBITDA in the range of $110 million to $125 million and adjusted net income between $0.40 and $0.95 per diluted share [15][16] - Customer deposits remained flat year-over-year, indicating solid business trends despite market uncertainties [14][49] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the assumptions regarding the discounting environment as the selling season progresses? - Management expects the promotional environment to remain active during the winter, with potential for margin recovery in the spring as inventory levels normalize [21][22] Question: What is the target for inventory levels by the end of Fiscal 2026? - The goal is to achieve inventory turns above two times, requiring a reduction in inventory dollars compared to the previous year [23] Question: Can you clarify the same-store sales growth and unit volume changes? - Same-store sales grew nearly 11% despite a mid-single digit decline in unit volumes, driven by a significant increase in average unit selling prices [28][29] Question: How is demand across various income groups and price points? - Demand at the premium end is performing better, while the lower end remains more challenged, with overall trends being affected by market uncertainties [38][40] Question: What is the outlook for gross margins in the second half of the fiscal year? - Management anticipates less pressure on gross margins in the back half of the year, with opportunities for consolidation margin expansion [47] Question: What is the status of customer deposits? - Customer deposits have stabilized year-over-year, reflecting solid business trends without significant one-time impacts [49] Question: What is the current state of acquisition targets and valuations? - The acquisition pipeline remains robust, but many potential targets are facing earnings challenges, complicating valuation discussions [68][70]

Industry Overview - Consumers are cautious due to economic challenges such as high inflation and a potentially weakening job market, leading to reduced spending [1] - The S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector has returned 4.8% over the past year, significantly lower than the S&P 500's overall return of 15.1% [1] Nike - Nike has historically been a dominant player in the sportswear market, with approximately 65% of its sales coming from footwear [4] - Recent sales have been declining due to increased competition, lack of innovative products, and a strategic shift to direct-to-consumer sales, which has impacted relationships with wholesale partners [5] - In the fiscal third quarter, Nike's sales growth was stagnant after adjusting for foreign-currency effects, with wholesale revenue increasing by 8% but direct revenue declining by 9% [6] TJX Companies - TJX Companies operates an off-price retail business under brands like TJ Maxx and Marshalls, capitalizing on purchasing excess inventory at attractive prices [7] - The company has benefited from economic conditions that allow it to source a wider selection of discounted goods, particularly during challenging times [8] - In the fiscal third quarter, TJX reported a 5% increase in same-store sales, achieving positive comps across all its business segments [8]

Core Insights - Forestar Group reported a solid first quarter with revenue growth of 9% year-over-year, reaching $273 million, but net income decreased to $15.4 million due to margin pressures [3][4][7] Financial Performance - Gross profit margin for the quarter was 20.1%, down from 22.0% in the same quarter last year, primarily due to a low-margin tract sale; excluding this sale, the gross margin would have been approximately 21.5% [2][7] - Pre-tax income was $20.8 million with a pre-tax margin of 7.6%, compared to $21.9 million and 8.7% in the prior-year quarter [3][7] Investment and Liquidity - The company invested $415 million in the quarter, with plans to invest about $1.4 billion for fiscal 2026, maintaining a disciplined investment pace [5][17] - Forestar ended the quarter with approximately $820 million in liquidity, including $212 million in unrestricted cash and a net debt-to-capital ratio of 24.6% [18] Lot Position and Customer Relationships - Forestar holds a total lot position of 101,000 lots, with 65% owned and 35% controlled through purchase contracts; 10,400 lots are finished and under contract to sell [6][19] - D.R. Horton is the largest customer, with 16% of homes started in the past year on Forestar-developed lots, and a goal for one in three D.R. Horton homes to be on Forestar lots [15][16] Market Conditions and Operational Outlook - Demand for new homes is pressured by affordability constraints, but mortgage rate buy-down incentives are helping to support demand [12] - The company is focusing on developing lots for entry-level and first-time buyers, which represent the largest segment of the new home market [13][20] Guidance and Future Outlook - Forestar is maintaining its fiscal 2026 guidance for revenue between $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion and lot deliveries of 14,000 to 15,000 lots, while expecting margins to remain at the lower end of the historical range of 21% to 23% [4][20]

Core Insights - Fashion has become a significant growth area for Dillard's Inc. (DDS), enabling the company to achieve category-level gains despite a challenging retail environment [1][2] - Dillard's reported a 3% increase in total retail sales and comparable-store sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, indicating steady customer engagement [2][10] - The company's merchandising strategy, which focuses on curated assortments and higher-margin private labels, has been a key driver of recent fashion momentum [3][4] Sales Performance - Dillard's experienced strong gains in women's apparel, dresses, occasion wear, juniors', children's apparel, accessories, and lingerie [10] - The company expanded its gross margin, with additional gains in shoes, men's apparel, home goods, furniture, and cosmetics [10] Market Position - Dillard's has outperformed many traditional department store peers, suggesting that its disciplined assortment planning and brand relevance resonate well with consumers [2][5] - The company's shares have increased by 54.6% over the past year, compared to the industry's growth of 52.6% [6] Valuation Metrics - Dillard's trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 22.6X, which is higher than the industry's 15.30X multiple [9] Future Outlook - The sustainability of the current demand for discretionary items is uncertain due to inflation and economic factors, but Dillard's focused merchandising and inventory management position it well for near-term challenges [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year decline in earnings for fiscal 2025 and 2026, but estimates have been revised upward in the past 30 days [13]

Group 1: Report Industry Investment Rating - No relevant content Group 2: Core Viewpoints of the Report - The short - term supply - demand of domestic styrene is expected to remain in tight balance, and the visible inventory may maintain a downward trend. The non - integrated device losses decrease, and the integrated device profit is relatively considerable. In the short term, there are no news of large - scale device shutdown or restart, so the domestic styrene output and capacity utilization rate are expected to change little. The downstream EPS maintains low - level operation due to the off - season demand and high inventory, the PS device operation rate is expected to continue to increase, and the ABS pre - sale performance is good with the operation rate expected to increase slightly. The short - term EB2602 is expected to show a volatile trend, with the daily range expected to be around 6,650 - 6,850 [2][3] Group 3: Summary by Relevant Catalogs Futures Market - The closing price of the active styrene futures contract is 6,781 yuan/ton, up 44 yuan; the trading volume is 328,179, down 121,936; the long position of the top 20 holders is 336,085 hands, down 45 hands; the short position of the top 20 holders is 370,539 hands, up 1,635 hands; the net long position of the top 20 holders is - 34,454 hands, down 1,680 hands; the warehouse receipt quantity is 757 hands, down 600 hands; the closing price of the January contract is 6,700 yuan/ton [2] Spot Market - The spot price of styrene is 6,728 yuan/ton, up 40 yuan; the FOB South Korea intermediate price is 841.5 US dollars/ton, up 12.5 US dollars; the CFR China intermediate price is 851.5 US dollars/ton, up 12 US dollars; the mainstream price in Northeast China is 6,525 yuan/ton, up 50 yuan; the mainstream price in South China is 6,965 yuan/ton, up 70 yuan; the mainstream price in North China is 6,640 yuan/ton; the mainstream price in East China is 6,810 yuan/ton, up 35 yuan [2] Upstream Situation - The CFR Northeast Asia intermediate price of ethylene is 746 US dollars/ton; the CFR Southeast Asia intermediate price is 726 US dollars/ton; the CIF Northwest Europe intermediate price is 676 US dollars/ton, up 2.5 US dollars; the FD US Gulf price is 408 US dollars/ton. The spot price of pure benzene in the US Gulf is 280 cents/gallon, up 1 cent; the CIF Taiwan price is 661.17 US dollars/ton; the FOB Rotterdam price is 739 US dollars/ton; the South China market price is 5,300 yuan/ton; the East China market price is 5,360 yuan/ton, up 35 yuan; the North China market price is 5,170 yuan/ton [2] Industry Situation - The total styrene operating rate is 70.7%, up 1.57 percentage points; the national styrene inventory is 171,760 tons, up 800 tons; the total East China main port inventory is 13.88 tons, down 0.05 tons; the East China main port trade inventory is 8.33 tons, down 0.12 tons [2] Downstream Situation - The operating rate of EPS is 52.56%, up 0.75 percentage points; the operating rate of ABS is 69.4%, down 0.7 percentage points; the operating rate of PS is 58.6%, up 4.1 percentage points; the operating rate of UPR is 38%, up 2 percentage points; the operating rate of styrene - butadiene rubber is 79.38%, up 0.15 percentage points [2] Industry News - From December 19th to 25th, styrene output increased by 2.25% month - on - month to 354,600 tons, and capacity utilization increased by 1.57% month - on - month to 70.70%. The consumption of EPS, PS, and ABS increased by 2.79% month - on - month to 269,100 tons. As of December 25th, the styrene factory inventory increased by 0.47% month - on - month to 171,800 tons; as of December 29th, the East China port inventory decreased by 0.36% month - on - month to 138,800 tons, and the South China port inventory increased by 70% month - on - month to 18,700 tons. As of December 24th, the non - integrated profit increased to - 177 yuan/ton compared with last week; as of December 26th, the integrated profit was 627.63 yuan/ton [2]

Report Overview - Report Title: ITG Guomao Futures Data Daily - Report Date: December 29, 2025 - Researcher: Huang Xianglan - Investment Consultation Number: Z0021658 - Qualification Number: F03110419 1. Core Viewpoints - The domestic rumor of customs control on soybean imports is beneficial for near - month contracts and positive spreads. Attention should be paid to customs policy dynamics [8]. - US soybean exports are weak, and there is no obvious hype driver in South American weather. Brazilian premiums are expected to face pressure later. The M05 contract is expected to be relatively weak, with an overall expectation of near - strong and far - weak [8]. - In the short term, livestock and poultry are expected to maintain high inventory, supporting feed demand. However, current breeding profits are in the red, and national policies tend to control pig inventory and weight, which may affect far - month supply [7][8]. - The cost - effectiveness of soybean meal has decreased, but recent downstream transactions are normal, and提货 performance is good [8]. 2. Industry Data Summaries 2.1 Basis Data - For 43% soybean meal spot basis on December 26, 2025: Dalian was 390 with a rise of 10; in different regions such as Rizhao (330, +10), Tianjin (350, +10), Zhangjiagang (340, - 500), Dongguan (290, - 10), Zhanjiang (310, - 30), and Fangcheng (310, - 10) [4]. - The rapeseed meal spot basis in Guangdong was 76, down 32 [4]. 2.2 Spread Data - The spot spread of soybean meal - rapeseed meal in the factory was 300, and the spot spread in the market was 399, down 9; the spread between soybean meal and rapeseed meal was 559, up 12 [5]. - The RM1 - 5 spread was 68, down 16; the M3 - M5 spread and M1 - RM1 spread data were also presented [4][5]. 2.3 Supply - related Data - According to CONAB, the predicted output of the 25/26 Brazilian new crop is 177.6 million tons. As of December 5, the Brazilian soybean sowing rate was 90.3% [7]. - According to BAGE, as of December 3, the Argentine soybean sowing progress was 4.7% [7]. - The domestic soybean and soybean meal inventories are at historically high levels for the same period, and the de - stocking of soybean meal is slow. The现货 supply pressure is still large, and it is expected to accelerate de - stocking from December to January [8]. 2.4 Demand - related Data - Livestock and poultry are expected to maintain high inventory in the short term, supporting feed demand, but current breeding profits are in the red [7][8]. - The cost - effectiveness of soybean meal has decreased, and recent downstream transactions are normal, with good提货 performance [8]. 2.5 Other Data - The US dollar to RMB exchange rate was 6.9815, with no change. The Brazilian soybean CNF premium was 150 cents per bushel, and the domestic import soybean spot crushing profit was 90 yuan per ton [5]. - The domestic soybean auction had a high premium, and attention should be paid to subsequent auction situations [7].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes Walmart's advanced use of AI and machine learning to optimize inventory management and enhance customer shopping experiences during the holiday season [1][4][19]. Group 1: AI and Inventory Management - Walmart's AI/ML data improves inventory flow by identifying and correcting discrepancies in supply chain models, utilizing historical data and predictive analytics for strategic item placement [1][3]. - The integration of AI tools allows Walmart to make real-time buying decisions, enhancing its ability to manage inventory effectively [4][19]. - The company employs advanced AI models and ambient IoT sensors to predict future demand and improve inventory accuracy, ensuring efficient supply chain operations [19][22]. Group 2: Market Position and Competitive Advantage - Walmart's scale provides significant competitive advantages, with annual revenues exceeding $693 billion and a market capitalization over $810 billion, dwarfing competitors like Target [9]. - The company has built one of the largest omnichannel ecosystems, using its store network as fulfillment hubs, which enhances convenience and keeps last-mile costs competitive [20]. - Walmart's ability to absorb cost pressures from tariffs without eroding margins allows it to maintain competitive pricing while managing supply chain efficiencies [16]. Group 3: Retail Environment and Consumer Behavior - Retailers are expecting flat traffic and inventory volumes, with 46% anticipating similar promotional strategies to 2024, indicating a cautious approach to pricing and inventory management [5][10]. - Despite cautious consumer sentiment, retail sales during the holiday season are projected to grow between 3.7% and 4.2%, translating to total spending between $1.01 trillion and $1.02 trillion [12][13]. - Retailers have learned from past supply chain challenges, leading to more prudent inventory management strategies in the current economic climate [11].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total net revenue for Q3 increased by 7% to $2.6 billion on both a reported and constant currency basis [27] - Comparable sales rose by 2% [27] - Gross profit for Q3 was $1.43 billion, representing 55.6% of net revenue, down from 58.5% in Q3 2024 [29] - Net income for the quarter was $307 million, or $2.59 per diluted share, compared to $2.87 for the third quarter of 2024 [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Americas, total revenue declined by 2%, with the U.S. down 3% and Canada down 1% [11] - International revenue increased by 33%, driven by a 46% growth in China Mainland [11][28] - Men's revenue increased by 8%, women's revenue increased by 6%, and accessories and other grew by 12% [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - China Mainland revenue increased by 46%, with comparable sales up by 25% [28] - The rest of the world segment saw revenue grow by 19% on a reported and constant currency basis, with comparable sales increasing by 9% [28] - The company ended the quarter with 796 stores globally, with square footage increasing by 12% [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three pillars: product creation, product activation, and enterprise efficiency to drive improvement in the U.S. business [19][26] - Plans to increase new style penetration to 35% in Spring 2026, with a strong pipeline of innovation [20][22] - The company aims to enhance the in-store experience and improve digital engagement to better connect with high-value guests [25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a slowing trend in demand post-Thanksgiving, which has been factored into Q4 guidance [41] - The company expects revenue growth in Q4 to be below Q3 trends due to calendar shifts [12][33] - Management expressed confidence in the leadership team and the action plan to drive future growth [9][10] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with $1 billion in cash and no debt, allowing for continued investment in growth initiatives [27] - The leadership transition is underway, with Calvin McDonald stepping down as CEO and Marty Morfitt serving as Executive Chair [5][9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the cadence of demand in the U.S. during Q3? - The quarter progressed as expected, with August being the best month and October the softest, aligning with prior expectations [41] Question: What are the implications of the product assortment changes for operating margins? - There will be puts and takes for operating margins, with a focus on expense savings and efficiencies [42] Question: How did the segments perform this quarter? - The company held share in premium athletic but lost some share in performance apparel due to changing guest behavior [44] Question: How much of the new product pipeline is informed by customer research? - The product innovation process is driven by research focused on unmet needs across various activity categories [47] Question: Can you discuss the performance of the China business? - The company continues to see strong momentum in China, with good performance across all tier cities [60]