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]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures halted trading on Friday due to a data center glitch, impacting trade in US Treasuries and crude oil [1] - The benchmark index tracking ETFs was trading higher, with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) up 0.30% at $681.70 and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) up 0.42% at $616.85 [3] Company Performance - Tilray Brands Inc. (TLRY) fell 14.93% in premarket trading after announcing a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, maintaining a weaker price trend [7] - Direct Digital Holdings Inc. (DRCT) dropped 12.06% after revealing a settlement agreement to issue up to 50 million Class A common shares [7] - SMX (Security Matters) PLC surged 74.43% after presenting its technology at a conference in Dubai, despite maintaining a weaker price trend [7] - Walmart Inc. (WMT) rose 0.31% on Black Friday, promising discounts and exclusive offers, and maintaining a stronger price trend [7][15] - Apple Inc. (AAPL) was up 0.36% on Black Friday, offering promotions and gift cards, while maintaining a stronger price trend [15] Economic Insights - The consumer debt level in the U.S. has reached $18.6 trillion, but the ratio of household debt to disposable income is near a 25-year low at just below 90% [10][11] - The consumer landscape is described as "bifurcated," with high-wage earners spending while lower-income consumers struggle [11] - The long-term economic outlook remains optimistic, with projections for improvement driven by AI-related capital expenditures and deregulation [12]

Core Insights - Spanish retail sales increased by 3.8% in October compared to the same month last year, adjusted for the calendar and excluding inflation effects, following a decrease from a revised 4.1% in September [1] Summary by Category - **Retail Sales Performance** - The year-on-year growth rate for Spanish retail sales in October was 3.8% [1] - This growth follows a revised decline from 4.1% in September [1]

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets, including NYSE and Nasdaq, were closed on November 27, 2025, for Thanksgiving, but market sentiment remained positive due to expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December and optimism surrounding artificial intelligence [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 47427.12, up 314.67 points (0.6679%), indicating positive momentum in the market [1] Key Performers - Major gainers among Dow components included Boeing (BA), which rose by 2.46%, Walmart (WMT) with a 2.07% increase, and Microsoft (MSFT) adding 2.04% [2] - Other notable gainers were Goldman Sachs (GS) up 1.71% and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) increasing by 1.64%, reflecting broad-based strength across various sectors [2] Decliners - Salesforce (CRM) was the biggest laggard among Dow components, falling by 2.51% [3] - Merck & Co. (MRK) decreased by 0.73%, while 3M (MMM) saw a modest decline of 0.43% [3] - Other companies with slight pullbacks included Honeywell (HON) down 0.43% and IBM (IBM) with a 0.41% loss [3]

Core Insights - The article highlights the best Black Friday deals available across various categories, emphasizing significant discounts despite inflation and price uncertainties [1][2]. Technology Deals - Apple AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $219.99, down from $249, reflecting a 12% discount [5]. - The 4th Generation Apple AirPods are available for $69, a 47% reduction from $129 [7]. - The iPhone 17 is offered for free with a T-Mobile deal when switching four lines from another carrier, originally priced at $799 [9]. - The 11th-generation iPad is discounted to $274 from $349, a 21% savings [11]. - The MacBook Air (2025) is available for $749, down from $999, saving 25% [17]. Gaming Deals - The Sony PS5 Slim Digital Edition is priced at $399, a 20% discount from $499 [26]. - The PS5 Slim with a disc drive is available for $449, down from $549, saving 18% [27]. - The PS5 Pro is priced at $649, reflecting a 13% discount from $749 [29]. Kitchen Deals - The Keurig K-Supreme Single-Serve Coffee Maker is discounted to $99 from $169.99, a 42% savings [93]. - The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine is available for $499.99, down from $749.95, saving 33% [100]. Fitness Deals - The Oura Ring 4 is priced at $249.99, a 28% discount from $349 [113]. - The NordicTrack T Series Treadmill is available for $639, down from $799, saving 20% [123]. Fashion Deals - The Madewell CloudSoft Drop-Shoulder Crewneck Sweater is priced at $76.80, a 40% discount from $128 [126]. - Spanx AirEssentials Half-Zip is available for $79, down from $118, saving 33% [130]. Beauty Deals - The Dyson Supersonic Nural hairdryer is priced at $399.99, a 27% discount from $549.99 [142]. - The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System is available for $229, down from $369.99, saving 38% [145]. Pet Deals - The Embark Breed Identification Kit is priced at $84, a 23% discount from $109 [156]. - The Modkat XL Litter Box is available for $151.95, down from $189.95, saving 20% [160].

Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been filed against Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. for alleged violations of federal securities laws during the specified class period [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for investors who purchased Sprouts securities between June 4, 2025, and October 29, 2025 [2]. - Allegations include that Sprouts' growth potential for fiscal year 2025 was overstated and that the company misled investors about the resilience of its customer base against macroeconomic pressures [3]. - It is claimed that the company concealed the potential for a significant slowdown in sales growth due to a more cautious consumer, which would negate any perceived benefits from market conditions [3]. Group 2: Next Steps for Investors - Investors who suffered losses in Sprouts have until January 26, 2026, to request appointment as lead plaintiff in the case [4]. - A copy of the complaint can be reviewed on the law firm's website [4]. Group 3: Legal Representation - The law firm representing the investors operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning they will only collect fees if the case is successful [5]. - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is noted for its experience in securities fraud class actions and has recovered significant amounts for investors [6].

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is closed on November 27, 2025, for Thanksgiving, with trading resuming on November 28, 2025, in a shortened session [1] - The latest market data reflects performance from November 26, 2025, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 314.67 points (0.6679%) to reach 47,427.12 [1] Market Drivers - Investor optimism regarding potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in December and renewed enthusiasm for the artificial intelligence (AI) sector drove the market rally [2] - This positive sentiment contributed to a four-day winning streak for benchmark indices, helping to recover earlier losses in November [2] - Global markets also benefited from the anticipation of rate cuts, despite the U.S. markets preparing for the holiday closure [2] Stock Performance - Boeing (BA) led the Dow components with a gain of 2.46%, reaching $186.92 [3] - Walmart (WMT) increased by 2.07% to $109.10, and Microsoft (MSFT) rose by 2.04% to $485.50 [3] - Financial institutions performed well, with Goldman Sachs (GS) climbing 1.71% to $816.01 and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) up 1.64% to $307.64 [3] - Conversely, Salesforce (CRM) was the biggest laggard, down 2.51% to $228.15, followed by Merck (MRK) down 0.73% to $104.63, and Honeywell (HON) decreasing 0.43% to $189.99 [3]

One of the nation’s leading supply-chain professors warns of a ‘far thinner’ toy selection this holiday shopping season. https://t.co/I1YC9I6ZoD ...

Core Viewpoint - SharpLink Gaming (SBET) is assigned a buy rating due to its stock trading at a discount relative to the value of its Ethereum treasury, indicating a potential upside of 24.5% to its fair value [1] Group 1: Company Analysis - SharpLink Gaming operates in the intersection of digital assets and gaming, which are sectors that are reshaping global finance and entertainment [1] - The company is analyzed using a blend of discounted cash flow (DCF) and relative valuation methods, along with macroeconomic and narrative context [1] Group 2: Industry Context - The analysis encompasses a range of future-oriented industries, including digital assets like XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum, as well as gaming publishers such as Nintendo, Capcom, and Square Enix [1] - The focus is on identifying early positioning in companies and assets that are expected to lead the next cycle of growth in their respective sectors [1]

Core Insights - The article compares the market positions and challenges faced by Coca-Cola and Walmart, suggesting that Walmart may be the better investment choice currently [2][18] Company Overview - Coca-Cola is the largest beverage company globally, established in 1886, while Walmart is the largest brick-and-mortar retailer, founded in 1962 [3][4] - Walmart operates approximately 10,800 stores, with a significant presence in the U.S., where 90% of the population lives within 10 miles of a store, generating annual revenues around $700 billion [4][5] Financial Performance - Walmart's same-store sales in the U.S. increased by 5.3% year-over-year, contrasting with Target's decline of 3.8% and Coca-Cola's modest unit volume sales growth of 1% [16] - Walmart's market capitalization is $870 billion, with a gross margin of 25.87% and a dividend yield of 0.84% [6][7] Market Dynamics - Both companies must provide value to cost-conscious consumers and maintain strong promotional efforts to succeed [2] - Coca-Cola's revenue structure is shifting, with approximately two-thirds of its $12.5 billion revenue last quarter coming from concentrated flavor syrups sold to restaurants [8] Challenges Facing Coca-Cola - Changing consumer preferences are leading to a decline in sugary soda consumption, prompting Coca-Cola to launch healthier options like Simply Pop [11] - The rise of smaller beverage brands and direct-to-consumer sales via the internet is fragmenting the beverage market, posing a challenge to Coca-Cola's dominance [14] - Inflation and increased competition from alternative beverage options are pressuring Coca-Cola's traditional bottling partnerships [13][15] Investment Considerations - Coca-Cola remains a solid choice for dividend income, having raised its dividend for 63 consecutive years, yielding 2.8% [17] - For growth and value-building profits, Walmart is currently viewed as the more reliable investment option, with strong consumer and supplier relationships [18]