To enhance customer experience and accelerate our ability to capture a greater share of wallet. To truly outperform, we must leverage our supplier community as a strong partner in these efforts as well. Over a year ago, we created a supplier council that we meet with regularly to share ideas and opportunities. These discussions are now evolving to the development of joint strategies to accelerate MSC's growth. For example, turning to slide four, I'm pleased to announce that in late February, we will be host ...

Workforce Changes - Among the 12 public sector banks, seven experienced a decline in headcount in FY25 compared to the previous year, with State Bank of India (SBI) adding the most employees, totaling a net increase of 3,930 in 2024-25, while Union Bank of India saw the largest decline with a reduction of 1,935 employees [1] Focus on Productivity - Government-run lenders are prioritizing productivity, with the business per employee metric being a key parameter for the government, the largest shareholder of public sector banks [2] - The groundwork for improving productivity at public sector banks has begun to yield results [2] Strategic Hiring and Transformation - Over the past 3-4 years, public sector banks have emphasized sales and revenue generation, hiring senior executives from private banks on three-year contracts to enhance transformation, technology, customer experience, and retention [3] - Notable lateral hiring includes SBI's recruitment of Nitin Chugh as deputy managing director for digital payments and Bank of Baroda's appointment of Ian De Souza as chief financial officer [3] Human Resource Strategies - SBI is engaging a management consultant to develop a five- and ten-year HR strategy aimed at aligning HR policies with performance goals and benchmarking against industry best practices [4] Work Culture Evolution - There has been a notable change in the work culture of public sector banks, with an increased focus on performance-based appraisals, contrasting with past practices where employee motivation was lower [5]

Key Takeaways The chemical industry faced weak demand in construction, autos and electronics amid inflation and tariffs.Soft demand in China and Europe, plus trade tariffs, continued to pressure chemical volumes in 2025.Chemical makers are cutting costs and improving efficiency to protect margins heading into 2026.The chemical industry has grappled with a demand slowdown in certain major markets, including consumer durables and building & construction, cautious spending by customers and pockets of inventory ...

Core Viewpoint - UBS upgraded Expeditors International from Neutral to Buy, raising the price target to $166 due to productivity improvements and revenue resilience despite lower ocean freight rates [1] Group 1: Financial Projections - UBS increased its 2027 EPS estimate for Expeditors to $6.90 per share from $6.58, which is above the consensus of $6.39, reflecting initial efficiency benefits [2] - Analysts modeled a 4% rebound in net revenue for Expeditors [2] Group 2: Valuation Insights - At 24x projected earnings, Expeditors' current valuation implies roughly $950 million in EBIT for 2027, compared to UBS's forecast of $1.13 billion, indicating the stock is undervalued [3] - Investor sentiment remains cautious due to weak ocean pricing, with most analysts maintaining Neutral or Sell ratings [3] Group 3: Long-term Potential - UBS highlighted the long-term potential for Expeditors to achieve significant productivity gains through technology integration and process optimization [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenue for the third quarter was $1 billion, a slight decrease year over year [15] - Non-GAAP operating income from continuing operations was $50 million, down from $55 million last year [15] - Adjusted earnings per share were $1.46, down from $1.64 in the third quarter of 2024 [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The asset-based segment reported third-quarter revenue of $726 million, representing a 2% increase on a per-day basis [15] - Daily shipments in the asset-based segment grew by 4%, while weight per shipment decreased by 2% [16] - The asset-light segment achieved third-quarter revenue of $356 million, with shipments per day reaching a record high, up 2.5% year over year [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Daily shipments in October grew 1% year over year, while weight per shipment decreased by 2% [17] - The company expects an operating ratio increase of approximately 400 basis points sequentially for the fourth quarter due to market softness [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a long-term strategy built on growth, efficiency, and innovation, with a commitment to understanding customer needs [4][5] - Long-term financial targets include improving the non-GAAP operating ratio to 87%-90% and achieving non-GAAP EPS in the range of $12-$15 by 2028 [13] - The company is strategically investing in technology and process improvements to enhance productivity and reduce costs [12][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted ongoing softness in the freight environment but expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate challenges and drive growth [15][22] - The company anticipates that improvements in the housing market and interest rate reductions could spur demand in 2026 [76] - Management emphasized a focus on disciplined execution and strategic investments to position the company for future growth [22] Other Important Information - The company returned over $66 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in the first nine months of 2025 [21] - The board increased the company's share repurchase authorization to $125 million, indicating confidence in the long-term strategy [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Q4 guidance and potential impacts - Management acknowledged softness in October, attributing it to multiple factors including government shutdown impacts and seasonal trends [26][27] Question: Expectations for operating ratio and pricing dynamics - Management indicated that while the operating ratio is expected to increase, they are focused on controlling costs and improving pricing strategies [32][33] Question: Capacity dynamics and potential for price recovery - Management noted that there is currently excess capacity in the LTL space but expects pricing to improve as the market inflects due to strategic investments [40][41] Question: Volume decline and its cyclical versus structural nature - Management believes the volume decline is more cyclical, with strong customer retention despite reduced shipping volumes [46][47] Question: Insights on housing market demand - Management sees continued weakness in the housing market but anticipates that interest rate reductions could spur demand in 2026 [76][77] Question: Market share gains and service challenges - Management highlighted the effectiveness of their commercial team in gaining market share, despite some service challenges [79][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 6% growth in EPS, reaching $1.83 compared to $1.72 in the previous year [27] - Revenues increased by 1% year-over-year, driven by a 1% rise in RTMs and a 5% increase in carloads [21][27] - The operating ratio improved by 170 basis points to 61.4%, compared to 63.1% in the previous year [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Volume growth was approximately 1% in RTMs and 5% in carloads, although overall volumes were softer than expected, particularly in merchandise segments due to macroeconomic and tariff pressures [11][21] - Intermodal volumes increased, with domestic units up 18% and international units up 14% [24] - Petroleum and chemical volumes rose across major segments, with plastics and chemical RTMs up 8% [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Canadian grain harvest is expected to be a record crop, despite a slower start [22] - Forest products, particularly lumber, saw a year-over-year decline due to weak demand and increased duties [23] - The company experienced market share gains in chemicals and plastics, with recent successes in domestic intermodal [24][25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on a capital spend of $2.8 billion for 2026, down nearly $600 million from the current year's level, to address capacity bottlenecks and optimize fleet size [5][20] - There is an emphasis on enhancing shareholder value through increased free cash flow and accelerated share buybacks [7][8] - The company is committed to operational efficiency and productivity improvements, targeting a reduction of $75 million in management labor costs [6][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by a weak macroeconomic environment and unexpected shocks from tariffs and labor [4][9] - The outlook for 2026 indicates limited volume growth, with expectations of a weak North American industrial production and housing starts [9][32] - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt and find growth opportunities despite external challenges [10][66] Other Important Information - The company has seen a 14% increase in free cash flow year-to-date, with expectations for continued acceleration into 2026 [11][31] - The company is actively participating in merger reviews to protect its franchise and competition in the industry [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about CapEx cuts and capacity - Management reassured that the capital cuts will not jeopardize capacity, as significant growth opportunities have already been addressed [36][39] Question: Opportunities in commercial strategy for 2026 - Management highlighted a diversified book of business and ongoing efforts to drive market share gains, particularly in energy and agriculture [43][45] Question: Risks associated with M&A activity - Management emphasized that further consolidation may not be beneficial for the industry and expressed readiness to protect their network if necessary [48][51] Question: Challenges in forecasting - Management acknowledged the difficulties in forecasting due to macroeconomic volatility and emphasized the need for agility in responding to changes [56][58]

Core Insights - Carter's, Inc. (CRI) reported mixed third-quarter 2025 results, with net sales exceeding estimates but earnings per share (EPS) falling short and declining significantly year-over-year [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Consolidated net sales reached $757.8 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $751 million, remaining stable year-over-year despite lower U.S. Wholesale sales [3] - Adjusted EPS was 74 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents, and down 54.9% from $1.64 in the prior-year quarter [2][9] - U.S. Retail segment sales increased by 2.6% year-over-year to $299.6 million, while U.S. Wholesale sales decreased by 5.1% to $192.9 million [4][9] - International segment sales grew by 4.9% year-over-year to $92.8 million [5] Margins and Costs - Gross profit fell by 4% year-over-year to $341.6 million, with gross margin contracting by 180 basis points to 45.1% [6] - Adjusted operating income decreased by 48.9% to $39.4 million, with adjusted operating margin down 500 basis points to 5.2% due to increased costs [6] - Adjusted SG&A expenses rose by 8.1% year-over-year to $307.7 million, accounting for 40.6% of net sales, an increase of 310 basis points [7] Strategic Initiatives - The company plans to cut approximately 300 roles and close 150 stores, targeting $35 million in annual savings starting in 2026 [9][11][12] - Carter's aims for over $10 million in annual spending reductions across various categories, with savings beginning in 2026 [12] - The closures are expected to be accretive to profitability due to sales transfer to nearby stores and online channels [13] Financial Position - As of the end of Q3 2025, Carter's had cash and cash equivalents of $184.2 million, net long-term debt of $498.7 million, and shareholders' equity of $864.6 million [8] - The company paid a cash dividend of 25 cents per share in Q3, totaling $9.1 million, with total cash dividends for the first nine months amounting to $47.2 million [8] Outlook and Challenges - The company faces challenges from new tariffs, with an estimated $110 million in duties paid in 2024 and projected annualized impacts of $200-$250 million from additional import duties [14][15] - Carter's has suspended its 2025 guidance due to uncertainties surrounding tariffs and their potential impact on business [16]

Core Insights - PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) is recognized as one of the 15 Dividend Stocks that have consistently raised payouts for over 20 years [1] - UBS has reaffirmed a Buy rating on PepsiCo with a price target of $172.00, highlighting confidence in the company's initiatives to enhance performance [2] - The company has a strong track record of dividend growth, with a quarterly dividend of $1.4225 per share and a dividend yield of 3.74% as of October 16 [4] Group 1 - UBS noted that PepsiCo's management is focused on reviving growth in the North American segment, which is a top priority for the company [2] - Improvements in productivity capabilities have been observed compared to earlier in the year, which are expected to lead to stronger profitability [3] - UBS believes that operational gains will support better financial outcomes in both the short and medium term, despite ongoing reinvestment in the business [3] Group 2 - PepsiCo's impressive 53-year track record of consecutive dividend growth makes it a favorite among dividend investors [4]

Core Insights - Workday is acquiring AI company Sana for $1.1 billion to enhance its human resources platform with AI capabilities [1][2] - The acquisition aims to provide AI agents for automating repetitive tasks, creating presentations, and searching company data [2][3] - Sana's products, including Sana Learn and Sana Agents, have over 1 million users and will continue to be developed under Workday [3][4] Company Strategy - Workday's president highlighted that Sana's AI-native approach aligns with their vision to transform the future of work [2][3] - The acquisition is part of Workday's strategy to enhance user experience by delivering personalized and intelligent AI capabilities [3][4] - Recent collaborations, such as with Zuora, indicate Workday's focus on integrating advanced technologies to improve financial management and billing processes [4][5] Industry Trends - There is a growing belief among workers that generative AI can enhance productivity, with 82% of frequent users supporting this view [5] - Concerns about job displacement are rising, particularly among regular users of generative AI, with 50% fearing it could eliminate their jobs [6][7] - As familiarity with generative AI increases, workers are becoming more aware of its potential risks, impacting their perceptions of job security [6][7]

Financial Performance - SNDL achieved its first profitable quarter with approximately $6 million in Adjusted Operating Income [17] - Net revenue increased by 73% year-over-year to $245 million [14] - Gross profit increased by 162% year-over-year to $676 million [14] - Adjusted Operating Income increased by 2263% year-over-year to $58 million [14] - Free Cash Flow decreased by 407% year-over-year to negative $79 million, driven by growth investments [14, 15] Segment Performance - Liquor Retail net revenue increased by 10% year-over-year to $1419 million [34] - Cannabis Retail net revenue increased by 11% year-over-year to $844 million [37] - Cannabis Operations net revenue increased by 43% year-over-year to $358 million [43] Strategic Highlights - Cannabis Retail same-store sales grew by 82% [51] - Liquor Retail same-store sales grew by 27% [51] - Cannabis Operations revenue growth was driven by the Indiva acquisition and international sales [52]