Core Insights - Edgewell Personal Care Company reported a Q1 fiscal 2026 GAAP EPS of -$1.41, impacted by the divestiture of its Feminine Care business, while adjusted EPS from continuing operations was -$0.16, outperforming the Zacks Consensus Estimate of -$0.18, resulting in an earnings surprise of 11.11% [1] - Revenue for the period was $422.8 million on a continuing operations basis, a 1.9% year-over-year increase, but below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of approximately $481.3 million, representing a 12.15% miss [2] - The company completed the divestiture of its Feminine Care business to Essity for $340 million, which is seen as a strategic move to focus on core areas and strengthen its balance sheet [3] Financial Performance - On a consolidated basis, net sales were $486.8 million, reflecting a 1.8% increase from the prior year, while organic net sales decreased by 0.5% on a continuing operations basis [2] - The company has exceeded consensus revenue estimates only once in the past four quarters, indicating ongoing challenges in meeting market expectations [2] - Financial ratios post-divestiture show a negative trailing P/E ratio of approximately -23.96, a P/S ratio of 0.42, a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, and a current ratio of 2.12, suggesting solid short-term financial health [5] Strategic Developments - The divestiture of the Feminine Care business is viewed as a pivotal milestone in the company's transformation, positioning Edgewell as a more focused and agile organization [3] - The company operates in a competitive consumer products industry, facing rivals such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever, and its Q1 performance modestly exceeded internal expectations for organic net sales, adjusted EPS, and adjusted EBITDA [4]

But I think the broad takeaway for investors from today is that PepsiCo is committed to bringing better focus to this company. You know, I've covered this company a long time and its primary competitors, Coca-Cola, Keurig, Dr. . Pepper, it's a primo water monster.How they differ from PepsiCo is so much more focused on specific categories. But PepsiCo, with the urging of the activist, urging them on, is bringing more focus to this company. And what I mean is they're rationalizing a lot of the SKUs that reall ...

Core Insights - The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) is U.S.-focused with lower costs and larger assets under management, while the iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (KXI) offers global diversification with a higher fee and slightly higher yield [1][2] Cost and Size Comparison - VDC has an expense ratio of 0.09% and assets under management (AUM) of $8.5 billion, while KXI has an expense ratio of 0.39% and AUM of $884.8 million [3][4] - The one-year return for VDC is 9.0%, compared to KXI's 14.8%, and both have a similar dividend yield, with VDC at 2.26% and KXI at 2.30% [3][4] Performance and Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, VDC has a maximum drawdown of 16.55%, while KXI has a drawdown of 17.43% [5] - A $1,000 investment in VDC would have grown to $1,481 over five years, compared to $1,322 for KXI [5] Portfolio Composition - KXI invests in 96 companies, with 97% in consumer defensive stocks and 3% in consumer cyclical stocks, including major holdings like Walmart and Costco [6] - VDC is heavily U.S.-centric, with 98% in consumer defensive stocks, and its largest positions include Walmart, Costco, and Procter & Gamble [7] Investment Implications - VDC has generated annualized total returns of 9.5% since 2006, outperforming KXI's 7.6%, despite both funds having similar top holdings [8] - KXI offers more international exposure, with only 60% of its holdings in U.S. stocks, while VDC's core holdings are primarily U.S.-based but generate significant overseas sales [10] - The lower expense ratio of VDC makes it a more attractive option for cost-conscious investors, especially given its long-term outperformance [11]

Core Insights - Grainger has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its U.K.-based Cromwell business to AURELIUS, a global private equity investor, as part of its strategy to focus on North America and Japan [1][2] - The company plans to close its Zoro U.K. business, pending legal and regulatory consultations [1] - Grainger anticipates a one-time, non-cash after-tax loss of $190 million to $205 million related to the exit from the U.K. market, primarily recorded in Q3 2025 [2] Company Strategy - Grainger aims to concentrate its portfolio on regions where it can achieve the greatest long-term impact, specifically North America and Japan [2] - The company is committed to driving profitable growth through its High-Touch Solutions model in North America and Endless Assortment businesses in the U.S. and Japan [2] Financial Performance - Grainger reported 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion, serving over 4.5 million customers worldwide with MRO products [3]