You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. On the heels of CAVA’s 15th anniversary, chief executive officer and co-founder Brett Schulman made it a point to highlight the fast-casual chain’s recent milestones during its fourth quarter and full-year earnings call Tuesday after market. Those milestones included surpassing $1 billion in revenue and recording the strongest new restaurant opening class to date.  He added that the company’s recent growth, includi ...

Walmart literally just out uh with results as we speak. Melissa Repco joins us. Scott, those numbers. >> Hey, Andrew. Walmart beat expectations for both sales and revenue for the holiday quarter as its business got a boost from e-commerce, advertising, and its third party marketplace. The company reported earnings per share of 74 cents compared to the 73 cents that Wall Street expected. It reported revenue of 190.66% billion compared to the 190.43% billion analysts expected. Its e-commerce sales in the US r ...

Core Insights - The company remains confident in its long-term targets, focusing on market share gains, margin enhancement, and operating leverage, with technology as a key area of focus alongside organic growth and acquisitions [1][6] - CEO Scott McPherson emphasized the commitment to a three-year strategic plan that balances revenue growth with gross margin initiatives and improved operating leverage [3][6] - The company reported fiscal second-quarter 2026 results within prior guidance despite a challenging macro environment, including declining restaurant foot traffic and a government shutdown [4][7] Financial Performance - Total net sales increased by 5.2% and cases rose by 3.4%, with net income up 45.5% to $61.7 million and adjusted EBITDA climbing 6.7% to $451 million [7][9] - The company updated its fiscal 2026 targets to net sales of $67.25 billion to $68.25 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $1.875 billion to $1.975 billion [24] Segment Performance - The Foodservice segment achieved 5.3% organic independent case growth, driven by strong performance in chicken, burger, barbecue, and seafood restaurant concepts [11] - The Convenience segment saw net sales rise by 6.1%, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 13.4%, attributed to cost discipline and contributions from new store onboardings [14][15] - The Specialty segment faced challenges, particularly from theater sales, which were down over 30%, representing a $50 million headwind to overall sales [16] Cost and Inflation Insights - Total company cost inflation was approximately 4.5% in the quarter, with foodservice inflation at 1.8% and specialty inflation at 5.4% [17] - Management expects inflation to remain in the low- to mid-single-digit range through fiscal 2026, with notable deflation in cheese and poultry categories [18] Cash Flow and Capital Allocation - Operating cash flow for the first half of fiscal 2026 totaled $456 million, up $77 million year-over-year, with free cash flow at approximately $264 million [19] - The company prioritized debt reduction in its capital allocation strategy, with no share repurchases during the quarter [19] Guidance and Outlook - For the fiscal third quarter, the company guided to net sales of $16.0 billion to $16.3 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $390 million to $410 million, considering ongoing challenges in specialty and recent winter storms [20] - The company reiterated its fiscal 2028 targets of $73 billion to $75 billion in sales and adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 billion to $2.5 billion [20]

Group 1 - Barclays analyst Seth Sigman upgraded Wayfair (W) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $123, up from $104 [1] - The company's market share accelerated in 2025 and is expected to continue this trend in 2026 [1] - Gains are driven by Wayfair's technology "replatforming," loyalty initiatives, and marketing changes [1] Group 2 - Wayfair's exposure to middle-income consumers positions it to benefit from tax refunds this year [1]

Core Viewpoint - TJX Companies Inc. is recognized as a strong investment opportunity by hedge funds, with UBS reiterating a Buy rating due to the company's significant market share gains against department stores [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - TJX has been a major share gainer in sales and EBIT dollars against department stores for over a decade, with a particularly strong performance in the third quarter [2]. - Bernstein SocGen Group has also rated TJX as an Outperform with a price target of $155, following positive insights from meetings with senior management [3]. Group 2: Growth Projections - Bernstein anticipates a 13% compound annual growth rate for TJX from 2021 to 2025, highlighting the company's potential to accelerate earnings growth despite challenges such as tariffs and consumer uncertainty [4]. Group 3: Dividend Commitment - TJX has announced a quarterly dividend of $0.425, which will be payable on March 5, 2026, marking 46 consecutive years of dividend payments, with an annual dividend yield of 1.11% [4]. Group 4: Company Overview - TJX Companies, Inc. is the world's leading off-price retailer, offering brand-name apparel and home goods at prices 20% to 60% lower than department stores, operating brands like T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Sierra [5].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fiscal fourth quarter 2025 revenue increased 22% to $460 million compared to $378 million in the prior year period [10] - Full-year 2025 total revenue increased 6% to $1.9 billion, driven by a slight increase in units and higher average selling prices [12] - Net loss for fiscal year 2025 was $116 million, or $7.22 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $6.39 per diluted share in the prior year [15] - Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2025 was $70 million, with adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.44 [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New boat sales in Q4 increased 27% to $275 million, while pre-owned sales increased 25% to $91 million [10] - Same-store sales for the year grew by 6%, outperforming the industry which saw a decline of over 13% [12] - Revenue from service parts and other sales for the quarter increased 7% to $81 million [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a 6% same-store sales growth for the year, outperforming broader industry trends [4] - Inventory levels decreased to $540 million from $591 million in the prior year, reflecting strategic inventory positioning [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company completed a strategic exit from discontinued brands to focus on high-performing brands, which is expected to improve margins in the long term [5] - The company aims to maintain a disciplined approach to inventory and cost management to adapt to market conditions [17] - The outlook for 2026 anticipates flat same-store sales, with total sales expected to range from $1.83 billion to $1.93 billion [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that industry conditions remain challenging, with retail demand normalizing from pandemic highs and increased promotional activity [4] - There are positive signs of improved channel inventories and normalizing OEM production, which could support demand and growth [6] - Management expressed cautious optimism for 2026, expecting demand to fluctuate with traditional seasonal cycles [16] Other Important Information - The company exited the year with the cleanest inventory levels seen in years, providing a competitive advantage [5] - The company has a total liquidity of over $67 million, including cash and credit facilities [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you quantify the change in inventory year over year? - The company reported a decrease of approximately 8.5%, or $50 million, year over year [19] Question: What is the right assumption for inventory for fiscal 2026? - Inventory is expected to increase modestly due to price increases, with a headwind of around 5% from exiting brands [20] Question: What is the outlook for interest rate expenses in 2026? - Interest rate expenses are expected to be flattish to slightly up for floor plan interest, while term interest should decrease [22] Question: Have consumer rates started to come down in a meaningful way? - Consumer rates have started to decrease, contributing to positive sales momentum [26] Question: How much were sales up at the Fort Lauderdale boat show? - Sales were nearly up 20% compared to last year at the Fort Lauderdale boat show [29] Question: How do you see the promotional environment playing out in fiscal 2026? - The promotional environment is expected to remain stable until manufacturers increase production [35] Question: What is the current dynamic regarding trade-ins for pre-owned boats? - There has been an increase in trade-ins as consumers are opting to sell through dealerships rather than independently [40] Question: What is the company's approach to M&A in the current environment? - The company is focused on being disciplined regarding debt and is taking a methodical approach to potential M&A opportunities [42]

Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of enabling Javascript and cookies in browsers to ensure proper functionality and access to content [1] Group 1 - The article emphasizes that users may face access issues if ad-blockers are enabled, suggesting the need to disable them for a better experience [1]

Core Insights - The Ensign Group reported strong operational execution in Q3, with revenue growth driven by higher patient volumes and improved clinical outcomes [1] - Management highlighted the importance of occupancy and skilled patient mix, attributing success to their decentralized, locally led model [1] - CEO Barry Port emphasized clinical performance as a key differentiator, with same-store facilities outperforming peers in government surveys and achieving record occupancy [1] Financial Performance - Revenue reached $1.30 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $1.28 billion, representing a 19.8% year-on-year growth [6] - EPS (GAAP) was $1.42, missing analyst expectations of $1.49 by 4.9% [6] - Adjusted EBITDA was $151.1 million, beating analyst estimates of $147.1 million, with an 11.7% margin [6] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $5.06 billion, a 1.1% increase from the previous guidance of $5.01 billion [6] - Full-year EPS (GAAP) guidance is $6.51, exceeding analyst estimates by 12.1% [6] - Operating margin remained stable at 7.4%, consistent with the same quarter last year [6] - Sales volumes increased by 15.1% year-on-year, compared to 9.9% in the same quarter last year [6] - Market capitalization stands at $10.35 billion [6] Strategic Insights - There is significant potential for skilled mix growth in mature facilities, with only 31.7% of same-store days currently skilled [6] - Organic growth remains a major focus for the company [6] - Managed care contracting in new markets, such as Alabama, is a gradual process that requires time to establish relationships [6] - Acquisition timing is primarily influenced by seller readiness, with a focus on maintaining discipline in pricing despite competitive pressures [6] - The company is expanding behavioral health services, with new units being added in Arizona and California to meet increased demand [6] - Ensign's facilities are positioned as high-quality, lower-cost alternatives, enabling gradual market share gains over time [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated sales were within the guided range, with growth in the Paint Stores Group offset by softness in other segments [4] - Gross margin expanded for the twelfth consecutive quarter, with gross profit dollars also increasing [5] - Adjusted earnings per share decreased due to higher non-operating costs and targeted growth investments [5][6] - The company returned $716 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Paint Stores Group sales increased by a low single-digit percentage, with price mix up by mid-single digits and volume down low single digits [14] - Protective and Marine sales increased by high single digits for the fourth consecutive quarter [14] - Consumer Brands Group sales were below expectations, with volume, price mix, and FX all down by similar low single-digit percentages [16] - Performance Coatings Group sales were in line with expectations, with volume, acquisitions, and FX up by low single-digit percentages [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The macroeconomic indicators suggest continued turbulence and a slowdown in demand across various segments and regions [6][19] - Customer sentiment reflects uncertainty and hesitancy to invest, with consumer confidence remaining mixed [19][20] - The company expects no help from the market for the remainder of the year, leading to a downward revision of sales expectations in the Consumer Brands segment [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to delivering above-market growth despite softening market conditions [6][20] - There is a focus on aggressive investments in the Paint Stores Group and maintaining discipline around SG&A costs [12][23] - The company is reducing CapEx spending for the year by approximately 20%, from $900 million to $730 million [24] - The company plans to continue opportunistically repurchasing shares and pursuing targeted acquisitions [25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the current quarter was not perfect but emphasized a disciplined strategy for long-term outperformance [7] - The company is experiencing a choppy demand environment, particularly in new residential, DIY, and coil coatings markets [9][30] - Management expressed confidence in their strategy and the potential for significant market share gains when demand improves [12][40] Other Important Information - The company is doubling its restructuring initiatives target to approximately $105 million for the year, expecting annual savings of about $80 million [10][12] - The company is focused on controlling general and administrative spending while investing in growth initiatives [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What gives caution regarding potential deterioration in demand? - Management pointed to new residential, coil, and DIY markets as areas of concern, noting volatility and challenges [30] Question: Which sub-segments in TSG might see the most share gains? - Management indicated opportunities in commercial, new residential, and property maintenance segments, with a focus on aggressive market share gains [35][36] Question: How should SG&A spending be viewed moving forward? - Management clarified that SG&A spending would be controlled tightly, with expectations of low single-digit increases in the second half of the year [48] Question: What role does product pricing play in market share growth? - Management emphasized that value proposition and service quality are prioritized over pricing in acquiring new customers [107] Question: What is the outlook for future growth? - Management expects to grow at a rate of 2.5% to 3% once demand improves, with a focus on maintaining market share during the downturn [70]

Film Performance & Market Trends - "Brad Pitt's F1" film earned over $55 million domestically for Apple [1] - IMAX accounted for more than 20% of the film's domestic debut [1] - For blockbusters movies that grossed over $30 million, IMAX historically indexed 20% on only five films, but recently achieved this level on three movies in the last two months [6] - The film grossed around $145 million globally, with international markets skewing higher due to F1's greater popularity outside the US [6] - The film's Sunday drop was less than typical, suggesting strong continued performance, especially with the July 4th weekend approaching [7] IMAX Market Share & Growth - IMAX is experiencing significant market share gains [9] - A 10% IMAX box office share was previously considered good, but "Brad Pitt's F1" achieved 23% [9] - Mission Impossible achieved 20% IMAX box office share in its first two weekends [9] - IMAX's stock is up approximately 65% in the last year, driven by the return of blockbuster hits [8] - IMAX anticipates beating its best year ever (2019) in the current year [11] Apple & Future Projects - Apple spent nearly $300 million on the film [14] - Apple is committed to another movie with Joe Kazinski and Jerry Brockheimimer, indicating continued investment in theatrical releases [13] - Denis Villeneuve has been selected for the next James Bond movie, and IMAX hopes to collaborate, potentially filming with IMAX cameras [11][12]