Tuesday marked the second time this year Kohl's shares gained about 40% in a single session. David Paul Morris / Bloomberg / Getty Images Close Key Takeaways Retail Sales: Definition, Measurement, and Use As an Economic Indicator Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Roles and Responsibilities vs. Other Chief Roles Kohl's (KSS) shares soared Tuesday after the retailer reported a surprise profit and better-than-expected sales, a day after removing the "interim" tag from CEO Michael Bender's title. The company said ...

U.S. stock markets presented a mixed picture on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, as investors carefully weighed a fresh batch of economic data and significant corporate news, particularly within the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) managed to post gains, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (COMP) slipped, and the S&P 500 (SPX) remained largely flat. This subdued performance followed a strong rally on Monday, driven by renewed optimism surrounding potential Federal Re ...

US stocks ended sharply higher Tuesday, building on a broad rebound fueled by growing optimism that the Federal Reserve will deliver a rate cut next month, while tech heavyweights Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and Apple (AAPL) posted record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) jumped more than 1.4%, or over 600 points, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.9%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) shook off an early slide to trade around 0.7% higher, after Monday’s session delivered a strong start to the ...

The retailer is looking for revenue opportunities in the shift to chatbot-guided e-commerce. ...

Kohl's rises after raising its full-year outlook for the second straight quarter, adding to a steady stream of retailers reporting stronger-than-expected results, like Abercrombie & Fitch. Bloomberg Intelligence's Senior Retail Equity Research analyst Mary Ross Gilbert discussed the earnings on "Bloomberg Markets" with Scarlet Fu. ...

Group 1 - Symbotic (SYM) reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results, with adjusted profit significantly increasing, leading to a surge in its stock price [1] - The company specializes in AI-enabled robotic technologies for automating warehouses and distribution centers, with Walmart (WMT) as a major customer [1] - Following the earnings report, there were multiple price-target hikes and an upgrade for SYM shares [1] Group 2 - The Nasdaq 100 index, tracked by the QQQ ETF, is undergoing changes in its membership, which may impact major companies like Walmart and Lululemon [2] - The stock market is experiencing fluctuations, with notable movements in stocks like Nvidia and Walmart, indicating a broader market sentiment shift [4] - Walmart has announced a "beat-and-raise" report, suggesting strong performance and potential growth [4]

Economic Indicators - Retail Sales for September increased by +0.2%, falling short of expectations and down from +0.6% in the previous two months, marking the lowest level since May's -0.8% [2][8] - The Control number for Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) came in at -0.1%, significantly lower than the +0.3% expected and the worst monthly figure in over a year [3] - The Producer Price Index (PPI) for September was +0.3%, up from -0.1% the previous month but lower than +0.7% in July; year-over-year PPI increased to +2.7% [4] Employment Data - The preliminary ADP jobs data showed a decline of -13.5K, marking the third consecutive week of job losses, with the 4-week average falling below previous reports [5][6] - Upcoming monthly ADP jobs numbers for October are expected to show a potential weakening in job growth, with a possibility of the headline coming in below zero for four out of the last six months [6] Earnings Reports - Alibaba (BABA) reported earnings of $0.66 per share, missing estimates by 5 cents, but shares rose +3% due to stronger AI cloud sales, with a year-to-date increase of over +90% [9] - Best Buy (BBY) exceeded earnings expectations with $1.40 per share, leading to modest share gains, while Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) surpassed expectations by over +10% with earnings of $2.36 per share, resulting in an +18% increase in shares [10] - Kohl's (KSS) reported a positive surprise of +152% with earnings of +$0.10 per share, leading to a +26% increase in early trading [11] - Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) beat earnings expectations with $2.78 per share, but shares fell due to the announcement of Foot Locker closures [12]

Group 1: Market Overview - Alphabet is expected to reach a $4 trillion market cap, driven by positive sentiment following Warren Buffett's investment and favorable reviews of its Gemini 3 product [1][24] - Nvidia is facing pressure as Meta plans to purchase a significant amount of Google AI chips, indicating competitive dynamics in the AI chip market [1][25] - Retail sales data for September showed that American consumers spent less than anticipated, raising concerns about consumer strength ahead of the holiday shopping season [4][9] Group 2: Retail Sector Insights - Best Buy has raised its outlook due to strong demand for entertainment products, while other retailers like Dick's Sporting Goods are struggling with operational challenges [2][3] - The retail landscape is mixed, with some companies performing well while others, like Abberium Fitch, reported disappointing results [6][12] - A bifurcated consumer market is emerging, where higher-income consumers remain optimistic while lower-income consumers are more cautious and seeking bargains [13][60] Group 3: Economic Indicators - The Federal Reserve is closely monitoring consumer spending and employment conditions, with recent data suggesting a potential weakening in the economy [8][10] - The affordability crisis is affecting lower-income households significantly, with rising costs for essential goods and housing [56][61] - The average cost of a car has surpassed $50,000, contributing to the affordability challenges faced by many Americans [61] Group 4: Technology Sector Developments - Large-cap tech companies continue to invest heavily in AI infrastructure, with expectations of above-market earnings growth for the sector next year [15][16] - Alphabet's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) and deep learning capabilities are gaining traction, potentially rivaling Nvidia's offerings [25][26] - Oracle is facing scrutiny regarding its backlog tied to OpenAI, with mixed analyst opinions on its future performance [41][49]

Core Viewpoint - Target is planning to expand its footprint with new, larger-format stores despite experiencing weak sales, aiming to reverse its sales slump and achieve profitable growth [1] Group 1: Investment Plans - Target will increase capital expenditures to $5 billion in the next fiscal year, marking a 25% increase or approximately $1 billion more than in 2025 [2] - The investment will focus on upgrading existing locations, enhancing supply chain and technology, and building new large-format stores [3][5] Group 2: Sales Performance - Target reported another quarter of declining traffic and sales, contrasting with Walmart's higher sales across categories [8] - The gap between Walmart and Target is widening, with Walmart experiencing a 5% gain in apparel sales while Target saw a 2.7% decline in store sales [9] Group 3: Strategic Focus - The new CEO, Michael Fiddelke, aims to steer Target towards a more profitable future by focusing on merchandising and store remodels [6][11] - Analysts emphasize the need for Target to strengthen its digital, automation, and supply-chain capabilities to remain competitive with Walmart, which has been investing heavily in automation [12][14]

Economic Overview - US stock futures showed little change following economic data indicating a pullback in consumer spending, with retail purchases rising by 2.1% in September after a 0.6% gain in August [1][31] - Wholesale inflation data indicated a moderate month-over-month increase, which is seen as a positive sign for the Federal Reserve's efforts against inflation and potential rate cuts in December [2][34] Company Performance - Nvidia's stock fell after reports that Meta is considering using Google's AI chips, which could challenge Nvidia's market position [2][6] - Meta is reportedly in talks to spend billions on Google's AI chips for its data centers, potentially establishing Google's TPUs as an alternative to Nvidia's GPUs [3] - Alphabet has emerged as the best-performing stock among the "Magnificent 7," with shares rising 35% since mid-October, adding over $1.5 trillion to its market cap [3][10] Retail Sector Insights - Dick Sporting Goods' stock declined due to concerns over its acquisition of Foot Locker for approximately $2.5 billion, despite comparable sales at Dick stores rising more than expected [4][26] - Best Buy reported its highest same-store sales growth in nearly three years, up 2.7%, driven by consumer demand for product upgrades, leading to an increased full-year sales outlook [21][23] - Kohl's has raised its full-year outlook for the second consecutive quarter, indicating stability under new CEO Michael Bender [5][21] Market Trends - The S&P 500 is up 14% year-to-date, with December historically being a strong month for the index, although some consolidation may be expected in early December [17][19] - Retail sales data for September suggested a cooling in consumer spending, with control sales (excluding autos and gas) increasing by only 0.1% compared to 0.6% in August [31][32] Consumer Behavior - Despite mixed signals from individual retailers, overall consumer spending remains resilient, with discretionary spending still occurring in the economy [32][52] - The Producer Price Index (PPI) showed a cooler-than-expected increase, which may support the narrative for a potential rate cut by the Federal Reserve [34][36]