Core Viewpoint - BTIG and Guggenheim have initiated coverage on several major retail and delivery companies, providing ratings and price targets based on their market positions and growth potential. Group 1: Walmart (WMT) - BTIG initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a price target of $120, highlighting Walmart's integrated digital and physical strategy as a means to deliver value to customers and shareholders, positioning the company for market share and profit gains despite macro pressures [1]. Group 2: Target (TGT) - BTIG initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and no price target, noting that while Target's brand is relevant and differentiated, it faces intense competition from Walmart, Costco, and Amazon [1]. Group 3: Costco (COST) - BTIG initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a price target of $1,115, emphasizing Costco's significant customer loyalty which is expected to drive traffic and sales growth, and viewing the recent share pullback as a buying opportunity [1]. Group 4: DoorDash (DASH) - Guggenheim initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a price target of $330, forecasting that Marketplace gross order volume growth will outpace the overall delivery market growth, driven by volume, with grocery and retail investments transitioning from a profit drag to a tailwind over the intermediate to long term [1]. Group 5: Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT) - Guggenheim also initiated coverage of Uber and Lyft with Buy ratings, indicating positive outlooks for both companies in the delivery and ride-sharing markets [1]. Group 6: Instacart (CART) - Guggenheim initiated coverage with a Neutral rating, suggesting a more cautious outlook compared to its peers [1]. Group 7: Nike (NKE) - BTIG initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a price target of $100, selecting Nike as a "Top Pick for 2026," while establishing FY26 and FY27 EPS estimates of $1.70 and $2.75, respectively, indicating confidence in the company's future performance despite acknowledging that there is still much work ahead [1].

Core Insights - Achieving financial freedom through stock investing is possible by selecting the right companies, maintaining long-term investments, and reinvesting dividends to build a solid retirement portfolio [2] Group 1: High-Yield Dividend Stocks - Stocks with yields over 5% are highlighted as strong investment opportunities, providing solid dividend payments while enhancing business strength [2] - United Parcel Service (UPS) offers a yield of 7.92%, has a 16-year history of consecutive dividend increases, and plans to pay $5.5 billion in dividends this year [3] - Pfizer has a yield of 6.94%, has faced revenue declines post-pandemic, but is focusing on long-term growth with a robust pipeline and a recent tariff exemption deal [4][6] - Verizon Communications has a yield of 6.93%, has increased dividends for 21 consecutive years, and reported operating revenue of $34.5 billion, up 5.2% year-over-year [6] - Realty Income, a REIT, pays a monthly dividend with a yield of 5.55%, has declared 132 dividend increases, and maintains a 97% occupancy rate across its portfolio [7][8] Group 2: Company Strategies and Market Position - UPS is shifting focus to high-margin sectors and reducing costs through job cuts and warehouse closures, aiming for long-term growth despite short-term challenges [3] - Pfizer's acquisition of Metsera enhances its position in the weight loss market, with promising mid-stage assets [6] - Verizon's guidance for free cash flow is between $19.5 billion and $20.5 billion, sufficient to cover its dividend obligations, and it has signed a deal for space-based connectivity set to begin in 2026 [6] - Realty Income's business model involves paying 75% of its income in dividends while investing the remainder in new properties, supported by long-term net leases that ensure steady cash flow [8]

Group 1: Holiday Observance - Columbus Day 2025 will be observed on Monday, October 13 [1] - The holiday is recognized alongside Indigenous Peoples' Day, which honors Native American history and culture [1][11] - Columbus Day is a federal holiday, but not all services and businesses will close [1] Group 2: Mail and Postal Services - USPS offices will be closed, and there will be no mail delivery on Columbus Day [2] - FedEx and UPS will continue deliveries, though schedules may be slightly modified [2] Group 3: Banks and Financial Services - Only TD Bank and Chase will remain open, with some Chase services possibly unavailable until the next business day [3] - Most major banks, including Bank of America, Capital One, and Wells Fargo, will be closed [3] Group 4: Stock and Bond Markets - The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq will remain open for trading [4] - Bond markets will be closed [4] Group 5: Grocery Stores - Most major grocery chains, including Walmart, Target, and Kroger, will remain open [5] - Hours may vary by location, and customers should check local listings for exact times [5] Group 6: Retail Chains - Most large retail stores and shopping centers will be open for business [6] - Some locations may operate with reduced or modified hours, so confirming hours before visiting is recommended [6] Group 7: Restaurants - Major fast-food and chain restaurants such as Starbucks and McDonald's are typically open on Columbus Day [7] - Hours can vary by location, so patrons should check with local restaurants [8]

Company Performance - Delta Air Lines Inc. reported better-than-expected adjusted EPS of $1.71 and operating revenue of $16.7 billion, reflecting a 6% year-over-year increase [2] - GAAP EPS for Delta was $2.17, marking a 10% rise from the previous year [2] - Delta anticipates total revenue growth of 2% to 4% for the December quarter, with adjusted EPS projected between $1.60 and $1.90 [3] Market Movements - Turn Therapeutics Inc. shares surged 145% to $17.14 after commencing trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market [9] - Tilray Brands, Inc. saw a 29% increase in shares to $2.2109 following better-than-expected first-quarter financial results [9] - Serve Robotics Inc. shares rose 26% to $17.38 due to a new partnership with DoorDash for autonomous robot deliveries [9] - Helen of Troy Limited shares dropped 21% to $21.90 after reporting second-quarter results and issuing FY26 adjusted EPS guidance below estimates [9] - Ferrari N.V. shares fell 13% to $417.00 after releasing its comprehensive 2030 strategic plan and updated near-term financial guidance [9] - Lucas GC Limited shares decreased by 30% to $0.1082 following a 40-for-1 share consolidation announcement [9] Commodity Prices - Oil prices decreased by 0.1% to $62.52, while gold fell by 0.7% to $4,041.90 [6] - Silver traded down 0.6% to $48.720, whereas copper rose by 1.7% to $5.1790 [6]

Core Viewpoint - Serve Robotics' stock price increased over 20% to $16.6 following the announcement of a partnership with DoorDash to integrate delivery robots into the DoorDash platform [1] Company Developments - Serve Robotics will collaborate with DoorDash to introduce delivery robots for orders placed through the DoorDash platform [1] - The partnership will initially focus on customers ordering from select stores and restaurants in Los Angeles [1] - There are plans to expand DoorDash's delivery service nationwide using Serve Robotics' technology [1]

Core Viewpoint - Serve Robotics' stock price increased over 20% to $16.6 following the announcement of a partnership with DoorDash to integrate delivery robots into the DoorDash platform [1] Company Developments - Serve Robotics will collaborate with DoorDash to introduce delivery robots for orders placed through the DoorDash platform [1] - The partnership will initially focus on customers ordering from select stores and restaurants in Los Angeles, with plans to expand DoorDash's delivery services nationwide [1]

Core Viewpoint - United Parcel Service (UPS) stock has significantly declined in 2025, down approximately 30% year-to-date, underperforming the S&P 500 due to various challenges including the decision to cut Amazon deliveries and narrowing margins [1] Group 1: Company Strategy - UPS is implementing a cost reduction plan named "better, not bigger," which aims to save about $3.5 billion in 2025 by cutting jobs and closing warehouses [2] - The company is shifting focus from low-margin consumer packages to more profitable deliveries for healthcare companies and small businesses, which is expected to improve margins in the long run [2] - UPS is investing in automation and data analytics to enhance efficiency, reduce delivery times, and lower costs, despite a significant drop in operating margin since 2022 [3] Group 2: Market Conditions - Average daily package volume in the U.S. has decreased this year, contributing to tighter operating margins and creating uncertainty regarding future guidance for 2025 [4] - Tariff pressures have also impacted the company's performance, leading to a cautious outlook [5] Group 3: Investment Considerations - UPS shares are trading at around 14 times forward earnings estimates, suggesting they may not be extremely cheap, but could be undervalued if the cost reduction plan succeeds [6] - The stock currently offers a dividend yield of over 7%, which may attract investors looking for growth and income, although those seeking stability might prefer to wait for clearer signs of recovery [6]

Core Insights - DoorDash has established a new multi-year strategic partnership with Serve Robotics to launch autonomous robot delivery services across the United States [1] Company Summary - DoorDash is expanding its delivery capabilities by partnering with Serve Robotics, indicating a focus on innovation in logistics and delivery services [1] - Serve Robotics specializes in autonomous delivery technology, which aligns with the growing trend of automation in the delivery industry [1] Industry Summary - The partnership reflects a broader industry shift towards the adoption of autonomous delivery solutions, which may enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs for delivery services [1] - The move is part of a competitive landscape where companies are increasingly investing in technology to improve last-mile delivery [1]

DoorDash customers in Los Angeles might soon have their food brought to them by one of Serve Robotics’ sidewalk delivery bots. The two companies on Thursday announced a multi-year partnership that would see them using autonomous robots to make deliverie... https://t.co/KRyXd7M0uB ...

Core Insights - DoorDash and Serve Robotics have announced a multi-year strategic partnership to implement autonomous robot deliveries across the U.S. [1][3] - This partnership aims to enhance DoorDash's multi-modal delivery platform, integrating various delivery methods to meet growing demand while reducing emissions and traffic congestion [4][5] Company Overview - DoorDash is a leading local commerce platform that has expanded to over 40 countries since its founding in 2013, utilizing technology and logistics to enhance commerce and access to opportunities [8] - Serve Robotics specializes in AI-powered, low-emission sidewalk delivery robots and has completed tens of thousands of deliveries for partners like Uber Eats and 7-Eleven [9] Partnership Details - Los Angeles residents using the DoorDash app may receive deliveries from Serve robots, increasing the volume of orders available for Serve [3] - The partnership builds on Serve's successful delivery track record in cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta, where it has completed over 100,000 deliveries from more than 2,500 restaurants [4] Strategic Goals - The collaboration is expected to accelerate Serve's vision of providing sustainable and reliable robotic delivery across U.S. neighborhoods [5] - DoorDash aims to optimize its logistics infrastructure by integrating autonomous delivery methods, enhancing efficiency and sustainability in fulfilling orders for consumers and merchants [5]