Core Insights - The clean economy is now primarily driven by market fundamentals, achieving record revenues and significantly outperforming fossil fuel benchmarks [1] Group 1: Clean Energy Rankings - The 2026 Carbon Clean 200 list tracks the top 200 public companies generating revenue from clean energy, electrification, and efficiency, focusing on actual financial performance rather than climate pledges [2] - The list serves as an educational tool to highlight top-performing publicly traded firms benefiting from the green transition [3] Group 2: Fashion Industry Performance - Only eight fashion and fashion-adjacent companies made the 2026 Clean 200 list, indicating a limited presence in a sector that heavily influences consumer culture [3] - Inditex, the parent company of Zara, ranked No. 13 with a sustainable revenue ratio of 53.8% and approximately $33.44 billion in sustainable revenue, slightly above the Clean 200 average of 53.7% [4] - Kering ranked No. 64 with a 39.9% sustainable revenue ratio and about $11.05 billion in sustainable revenue, while H&M ranked No. 116 with a 23.3% ratio and $6.23 billion in sustainable revenue [5] Group 3: Sportswear Comparison - Nike ranked No. 57 with sustainable revenue of $12.16 billion and a ratio of 26.3%, while Adidas ranked No. 58 with $12.11 billion in sustainable revenue and a ratio of 31.8% [6] - Puma ranked No. 180 with a sustainable revenue ratio of 25.1% and approximately $3.56 billion in sustainable revenue [6]

Company Developments - Meta Platforms and Nvidia have entered a multi-year agreement for Meta to deploy millions of Nvidia's AI chips, boosting Nvidia's position in AI hardware as Meta expands its data center capabilities [1][2] - Nvidia's shares increased by 1.6% following the announcement, while Meta's shares rose by 0.6% [2] - Amazon's stock rose by 1.8% after it was reported that Bill Aman's Pershing Square increased its stake in Amazon by 65% in the fourth quarter, making it the fund's third-largest position [3] Regulatory Updates - The FDA has reversed its initial refusal and agreed to review Moderna's application for its first mRNA-based seasonal flu shot, which is now expected to receive a final regulatory decision by August 5th [4][5] - Moderna's stock climbed approximately 6% on the news, with the company aiming to have the vaccine ready for the 2026-2027 flu season [6] Economic Indicators - Walmart is set to report earnings, with analysts expecting a revenue growth of about 5.6% year-over-year to $190.6 billion, an improvement from the previous year's 4.1% increase [9][10] - Earnings per share are anticipated to be around $0.73, and Walmart has only missed Wall Street revenue estimates once in the past two years [10] - Jobless claims data will be released, which is expected to provide insights into the stability of the job market following strong jobs data from the previous week [12][13] - The trade balance for November is projected at $56.8 billion, which will influence GDP estimates [14]

Core Viewpoint - Carrefour SA is a significant player in the global retail market, operating a wide network of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores, primarily in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, while facing competition from retail giants like Walmart and Tesco [1] Financial Performance - On February 18, 2026, Carrefour reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.29, matching market expectations, with actual revenue reaching approximately $48.4 billion, slightly exceeding estimates [2][6] - During the Q4 2025 earnings call, Carrefour's management discussed key financial metrics, revealing a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 35.19 and a price-to-sales ratio of 0.12, indicating a relatively low market valuation compared to its sales [3] Valuation Metrics - Carrefour's enterprise value to sales ratio stands at 0.26, and the enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is 5.84, reflecting the company's total valuation in relation to its revenue and cash flow efficiency [4] - An earnings yield of 2.84% indicates a modest return on earnings, while a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69 suggests a higher level of debt compared to equity, highlighting Carrefour's financial structure [4][6] Liquidity and Financial Health - The company's current ratio of 0.90 suggests potential liquidity challenges in covering short-term liabilities, which is crucial for understanding Carrefour's ability to meet immediate financial obligations [5]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are seeking growth stocks that can deliver above-average growth and exceptional returns, but identifying such stocks is challenging due to their inherent risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Growth Stock Identification - The Zacks Growth Style Score simplifies the process of finding promising growth stocks by analyzing a company's real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - Hennes & Mauritz AB (HNNMY) is currently recommended due to its favorable Growth Score and top Zacks Rank [2] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Earnings growth is crucial for investors, with double-digit growth being a strong indicator of a company's potential [3] - Hennes & Mauritz has a historical EPS growth rate of 7.4%, but projected EPS growth for this year is 23.3%, significantly higher than the industry average of 17.1% [4] Group 3: Asset Utilization - The asset utilization ratio, or sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio, is an important metric for growth stocks, indicating how efficiently a company generates sales from its assets [5] - Hennes & Mauritz has an S/TA ratio of 1.35, outperforming the industry average of 1.34, indicating better efficiency in asset utilization [5] Group 4: Sales Growth - Sales growth is another critical factor, with Hennes & Mauritz expected to achieve an 8.3% sales growth this year, compared to the industry average of 3.9% [6] Group 5: Earnings Estimate Revisions - Positive trends in earnings estimate revisions correlate strongly with stock price movements, making this a valuable metric for investors [7] - Hennes & Mauritz has seen a 5.7% increase in current-year earnings estimates over the past month, indicating positive momentum [8] Group 6: Overall Positioning - Hennes & Mauritz holds a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Growth Score of A, positioning it well for potential outperformance in the market [10]

Core Viewpoint - Walmart is expected to report strong fourth-quarter earnings, with revenue projected at $189.18 billion, an increase from $180.55 billion in the same quarter last year, and earnings per share anticipated to rise to 73 cents from 66 cents [2][3]. Earnings Estimates - Analysts predict Walmart's fourth-quarter revenue will be $189.18 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of approximately 4.5% [2]. - The expected earnings per share for the fourth quarter is 73 cents, up from 66 cents in the previous year [2]. Analyst Insights - Walmart has consistently exceeded revenue estimates for over 15 consecutive quarters and earnings estimates in seven of the last eight quarters [2][3]. - Market experts suggest that while Walmart's stock may perform well post-earnings, it may not sustain a rally due to high expectations already priced into the stock [4]. - Walmart's price-to-earnings ratio is noted to be 46, higher than most of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks, indicating a premium valuation [5]. CEO Transition - The upcoming earnings report will be the first under new CEO John Furner, with expectations of continued market share gains and stable comparable sales growth in the 4%-5% range [6]. Recent Performance - Walmart has shown consistent U.S. comparable sales growth in the range of 4.5%-4.8% over the last four quarters [7]. - The company's international sales have also seen a year-over-year increase of 10.8% [8]. Key Items to Watch - Investors are keen to see how consumer spending trends are reflected in the earnings report, particularly whether there is a shift from name-brand to private-label products [8]. - Strong growth in both U.S. and international segments, along with positive guidance for the next fiscal year, is anticipated to impact major stock market indexes and consumer staple ETFs significantly [9]. Stock Performance - As of the latest report, Walmart's stock is trading at $128.63, down 0.2%, with a year-to-date increase of 14.1% and a 52-week increase of 23.9% [11].

Core Insights - The upcoming earnings releases from major Retail-Wholesale players are expected to shape near-term market sentiment, with modest growth anticipated in sales and earnings following the holiday shopping season [1] - The sector is projected to achieve fourth-quarter revenue growth of 6.7% year over year, while earnings are expected to rise by 3.5%, indicating a slowdown from previous growth rates [2] Group 1: Earnings Trends - Consumer spending trends significantly influenced retail performance during the holiday season, with December retail sales unchanged month over month, reflecting a slowdown from November's 0.6% gain [4] - Year-over-year retail sales increased by 2.4% in December and 3.3% in November, indicating some resilience despite the month-over-month stagnation [4] - The slowdown in consumer spending is attributed to moderating job growth, policy uncertainty, and elevated household cost pressures, leading consumers to prioritize essentials and seek discounts [5] Group 2: Margin Pressures - Inflation trends, although moderating, continue to impact consumer budgets and retailers' cost structures, exerting pressure on margins for those unable to pass on higher costs [6] - Retailers with strong pricing power and efficient supply-chain management are better positioned to protect profitability amid these challenges [6] Group 3: E-commerce and Inventory Management - E-commerce and omnichannel execution are critical differentiators, with retailers that integrate digital and physical channels effectively capturing demand during peak shopping periods [7] - Inventory discipline is vital for profitability, with retailers using advanced analytics to align stock levels with demand, thus avoiding excessive markdowns [8] Group 4: Company-Specific Insights - **Dollar General**: Positioned well with a Zacks Rank 2 and an Earnings ESP of +16.26%, supported by market share gains and strategic initiatives like "Project Elevate" [10][11] - **Walmart**: Holds a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +1.31%, leveraging e-commerce momentum and a commitment to low prices, with a stable earnings estimate suggesting a 10.6% year-over-year increase [14][15] - **Home Depot**: Also a Zacks Rank 3 with an Earnings ESP of +5.61%, focusing on professional contractors and utilizing AI tools to enhance project planning [16][17] - **Dollar Tree**: With a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +1.63%, the company is enhancing its value proposition and operational discipline following the decision to move forward without the Family Dollar brand [18][19][20]

A founder-led buyout of Canadian luxury fashion retailer Ssense obtained court approval, despite a group of lenders seeking to block the deal and pushing for a liquidation process to recover more money. https://t.co/uABIT1NKUA ...

Group 1: Market Overview - International stocks, particularly the MSCI All-Country World ex-USA Index, have shown their best return relative to the S&P 500 Index since at least 1995, indicating a significant shift in market dynamics [2] - Domestic "SMID" caps and defensive sectors like Consumer Staples and Real Estate are outperforming, while Energy and Materials are leading among the 11 S&P 500 sectors [3] Group 2: Economic Data and Earnings - A busy week of macroeconomic releases is expected, including Q4 GDP and PCE inflation data, which could reshape growth and inflation narratives [9][10] - The anticipated Q4 GDP growth rate is 3.0% quarter-on-quarter annualized, a deceleration from Q3's 4.4% [11] - The PCE update for October to December will provide a clearer view of inflation, with expectations of a warm year-end print [12] Group 3: Corporate Insights - Walmart's upcoming earnings report is anticipated to provide insights into consumer behavior and potential AI and cost-cutting strategies under new CEO John Furner [6][7] - The tech sector, particularly high-margin software companies, is facing valuation pressures, with many stocks trading at mid-teens P/E multiples [5] Group 4: Consumer and Business Sentiment - The S&P Global Flash PMIs will be released, which may reflect improved sentiment among business owners and corporate managers, potentially indicating a better labor market [14] - The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers will provide a second update on consumer sentiment, with initial reports showing more optimism than expected [15]

Core Insights - The final reading for the 2025 holiday shopping season indicated flat retail sales at $735.0 billion, missing the expected 0.5% increase, with a year-over-year growth of 2.4% against a 2.7% rise in the Consumer Price Index, suggesting weak real spending momentum [1][10] Retail Performance Analysis - Large U.S. retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Alibaba are under pressure due to disappointing year-end sales, impacting profit margins and earnings, which raises concerns for retail ETFs that include these companies [2] - The stagnation in December retail sales was attributed to several economic factors, including persistent inflation, economic uncertainty, early promotions that pulled sales forward, and a K-shaped consumer behavior where higher-income households remained stable while lower-income households reduced spending [4][5][6][7] Future Outlook - The retail sector's recovery depends on moderating inflation and a rebounding U.S. economy, with expectations for gradual improvement in real consumer spending if demand stabilizes and retailers manage costs effectively [8][9] - Analysts project U.S. retail sales to grow by 3.5% year-over-year in 2026, with inflation anticipated to remain between 2.6% and 3.0% [11] Retail ETFs Spotlight - **State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT)**: AUM of $681.4 million, exposure to 73 companies, gained 10.2% over the past year, charges 35 bps in fees [12][13] - **VanEck Retail ETF (RTH)**: AUM of $265.2 million, exposure to 26 companies, rallied 9.5% over the past year, charges 35 bps in fees [14] - **ProShares Online Retail ETF (ONLN)**: Net asset value of $52.84 million, exposure to 20 online retail stocks, gained 3% over the past year, charges 58 bps in fees [15] - **Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY)**: AUM of $124.5 million, exposure to 81 companies in online retail, charges 65 bps in fees [16]

Bankrupt luxury retailer Saks Global Enterprises is moving to block Simon Property Group from closing two locations in California and New York https://t.co/xjDqwH4qb1 ...