Industry Trend - Rent the Runway introduced young consumers to wardrobe rental [1] - Nuuly seems to be the one actually making wardrobe rental work [1]

Ulta Beauty and Target have mutually agreed not to renew their joint shopping experience when the current agreement ends in August 2026 https://t.co/QgC08yhOUe ...

RT Andy Jassy (@ajassy)Thousands of fresh groceries are now available for Same-Day Delivery orders in 1,000+ U.S. cities and towns, with plans to expand to 2,300+ by end of 2025. Think customers are going to love being able to add fresh produce, milk, eggs, and more to their everyday Amazon purchases in one cart, delivered within hours. ...

Target and Ulta will be ending their in-store partnership, concluding a popular offering that has drawn shoppers interested in trendy beauty products to the big-box retailer https://t.co/zgZJM0Cn7K ...

Indian immigrants Gurmer and Dashmeet Chopra started their careers reselling phone cases on eBay. Today, their fitness-inspired streetwear brand sells out every two weeks online—and is about to launch its first store. (Photo: Ethan Pines for Forbes) https://t.co/dOaFzREz8K https://t.co/HCdqWrTWB5 ...

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates a year-over-year decline in Target's earnings due to lower revenues, with a focus on how actual results compare to estimates to influence stock price [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - Target is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.04 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 20.6% [3]. - Revenue projections stand at $24.87 billion, which is a 2.3% decline from the same quarter last year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 0.11% over the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - A positive Earnings ESP of +1.81% suggests recent bullish sentiment among analysts regarding Target's earnings prospects, despite a Zacks Rank of 4 indicating a less favorable outlook [12]. Earnings Surprise History - In the last reported quarter, Target was expected to post earnings of $1.62 per share but only achieved $1.30, resulting in a surprise of -19.75% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, Target has beaten consensus EPS estimates twice [14]. Conclusion - Target does not appear to be a strong candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider additional factors when making decisions regarding the stock ahead of the earnings release [17].

Market Expansion - Amazon expands same-day delivery of perishable groceries to 1,000 US cities [1]

Company Overview - Indian immigrants Gurmer and Dashmeet Chopra founded a fitness-inspired streetwear brand [1] - The brand initially resold phone cases on eBay [1] - The brand's online products sell out every two weeks [1] Business Development - The brand is preparing to launch its first physical store [1]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 50, which is above the industry average of 33.02 and the S&P 500's 22.62, indicating a premium valuation [1][2] - Despite this premium, Costco's stock has increased by 8.2% year-to-date, outperforming the industry average rise of 6.9% [5][6] - Membership renewal rates are strong at 92.7% in the U.S. and Canada, contributing to Costco's robust business model [8][9] Valuation and Performance - Costco's current P/E is slightly below its 12-month median of 50.74, suggesting it is relatively cheaper than its recent historical average [1] - Compared to peers, Ross Stores trades at a P/E of 22.72, Dollar General at 18.92, and Target at 13.50, highlighting Costco's premium positioning [2] - E-commerce sales grew by 14.8% in Q3, supported by improved logistics and a new Buy Now Pay Later option [8][11] Membership and Revenue Growth - The company has 79.6 million paid household members, a 6.8% increase year-over-year, with executive memberships growing by 9% [10] - Membership fee income rose by 10.4%, aided by a recent fee hike, contributing approximately 4.6% growth in the quarter [10] - Costco's private-label brand, Kirkland Signature, saw sales growth outpacing overall company growth, with penetration increasing by 50 basis points year-over-year [12] Competitive Landscape - Costco faces increasing competition from rivals like Ross Stores, Dollar General, and Target, which are enhancing their capabilities [13] - Margins are a critical area to monitor, with potential concerns related to selling, general, and administrative expenses, as well as foreign exchange volatility [14] Consensus Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current fiscal year remains stable at $17.97, while the next fiscal year's estimate has decreased slightly to $19.92 [15][17] - Expected year-over-year growth rates are 11.6% for the current fiscal year and 10.9% for the next [17] Investment Outlook - Costco's strong fundamentals and market leadership support its long-term investment case, but its premium valuation suggests a cautious approach [18] - The recommendation is to hold existing positions rather than pursue new investments at current high valuations [18]

Group 1 - The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) has returned 60% over the last five years, while lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) has seen a decline of over 42% during the same period [1] - TQP Research focuses on a value-oriented investment approach, identifying businesses that align with long-term success criteria established by renowned investors [1] - The investment topics covered by TQP Research include market analysis, macroeconomic trends, large-cap blue chip companies, and undervalued micro-cap and small-cap stocks [1]