Core Insights - The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) focuses on essential goods, holding 99.3% of its portfolio in companies that produce groceries, household goods, and beverages, with net assets of $16.2 billion and an expense ratio of 8 basis points [2][3] Group 1: Fund Characteristics - XLP is designed for stability during economic uncertainty, featuring a 2.67% dividend yield and an 8% portfolio turnover, indicating a buy-and-hold strategy aimed at income generation rather than capital appreciation [3] - The fund allocates 28.73% of its assets to three major companies: Walmart, Costco, and Procter & Gamble, which dominate their categories and provide predictable cash flows [3] Group 2: Market Performance - Retail sales reached $735 billion in December 2025, growing 3.3% year-over-year, despite a pessimistic consumer sentiment reading of 52.9, indicating continued consumer spending on staples [4][6] - XLP has returned 15.2% year-to-date through February 13, 2026, outperforming its 12.9% one-year return, with Walmart achieving 20.2% year-to-date returns, Costco at 18.3%, and PepsiCo at 15.6%, while Procter & Gamble lagged behind [5][6]

Market Overview - Futures are trading higher after a sluggish start to the holiday-shortened trading week, with all major indices ending the day modestly higher [2] - The Nasdaq closed at 22,578, up 0.14%, marking its fifth consecutive week of decline prior to this [2] - The Dow Jones closed at 49,533, up 0.07%, and the S&P 500 closed at 6,843, up 0.10%, while the small-cap Russell 2000 closed down 0.11% at 2,646 [2] Treasury Bonds - Yields on Treasury bonds were slightly higher as sellers took profits after a solid move higher last week [3] - The 30-year bond closed at 4.69%, and the benchmark 10-year note was last seen at 4.06% [3] Oil and Gas - Oil prices decreased after a rise the previous week, with Brent Crude finishing at $67.32, down 1.94%, and West Texas Intermediate at $62.23, down 1.05% [4] - Natural gas prices fell significantly, closing down 6.2% at $3.04 [4] Precious Metals - Gold and Silver experienced declines due to profit-taking and short selling, with Gold recorded at $4,876, down 2.31%, and Silver at $73.36, down 4.16% [5] Earnings and Economic Data - The focus will shift towards economic data as fourth-quarter earnings wrap up with Walmart's report on Thursday [6] - Despite solid earnings for the quarter, ongoing market issues persist, with some analysts suggesting a 10%-15% correction would be beneficial [6]

Core Insights - Carrefour reported a like-for-like (LFL) sales growth of 2.8% in 2025, with total group sales reaching €91.48 billion ($108.25 billion) despite currency pressures [1] - The company faced a decline in net income, dropping to €319 million from €723 million in 2024, attributed to higher taxes and integration costs [2] - Recurring operating income fell to €2.16 billion, with an operating margin of 2.6%, while net free cash flow was reported at €1.31 billion [3] Financial Performance - Net sales for the year were €82.10 billion, with a gross margin decline of 22 basis points to 19.5% due to price investments and changes in store mix [2] - EBITDA was €4.51 billion, down 0.4% on a reported basis but up 3.4% at constant exchange rates [2] - Fourth quarter LFL sales increased by 1.6% to €24.29 billion [3] Regional Performance - France's ROI, excluding Cora & Match, increased by 11.3% to €1.10 billion, with a margin increase of 31 basis points to 3.0% [4] - ROI in Europe, excluding France, grew by 3.7% to €481 million, driven by a 13.5% increase in Spain [4] - Latin America's ROI declined to €779 million from €879 million, stable at constant exchange rates but impacted by currency depreciation [4] Strategic Developments - Carrefour completed the disposal of its Italian operations and raised its stake in Carrefour Brazil through a minority buyout [4] - The company launched the Concordis buying alliance and entered exclusive negotiations to sell Carrefour Romania, expected to complete in the second half of 2026 [5] - Carrefour confirmed €130 million of synergies from integrating Cora & Match by 2027 [5] Future Outlook - For 2026, Carrefour anticipates ongoing strength in France and Spain, gradual volume recovery in Brazil, and benefits from the end of Cora & Match integration costs [6] - The board proposed an ordinary dividend of €0.97 per share for 2025, a 5.4% increase, along with a €150 million special dividend contingent on the closure of the Carrefour Romania disposal [5] - CEO Alexandre Bompard highlighted major milestones in 2025, including the integration of Cora & Match and the launch of the European buying platform Concordis [7]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are trending higher, with S&P 500 futures up 0.6%, Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.7%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures up 0.5% [1] - This upward movement indicates a "dip-buying" mentality as investors balance concerns over AI valuations with a strong domestic economy and potential global trade shifts [2] Index Performance - Major market indexes are looking to build on gains, with S&P 500 near 6,843, Nasdaq Composite around 22,578, and Dow Jones Industrial Average near 49,553 [3] Sector Trends - The broader market is affected by a rotation out of software-as-a-service stocks due to AI disruption, while defensive sectors like Utilities and Health Care show strength [4] - Current trends suggest a potential return to growth-oriented sectors if economic data supports a "soft landing" narrative [4] Economic Catalysts - Focus is on the release of FOMC minutes at 2:00 PM ET, with traders looking for insights on interest rate cuts [5] - Economic data to be released at 8:30 AM ET includes January Building Permits (expected at 1.400M) and Durable Goods Orders, forecasted to show a 1.7% decline [6] Corporate News - Nvidia remains a key market bellwether, with premarket interest surrounding its $4.66 trillion valuation ahead of its earnings report on February 25 [7] - Paramount Global shares rose nearly 5% amid a bidding war, while Amazon seeks to recover from recent pressures [8] - General Mills stock fell 7% due to concerns over consumer sentiment, while Tesla and Meta Platforms see modest gains [9] International Developments - A $550 billion Japan-U.S. trade deal is expected to benefit American industrial stocks, enhancing domestic capital investment [10]

Core Insights - Nanjing's consumption market showed strong performance during the 2026 Spring Festival, with total sales reaching 8.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.2% [1] - The city implemented various policies and activities to stimulate consumption, including subsidies and promotional events, leading to a vibrant market atmosphere [1] Consumption Trends - The "old for new" consumption initiative was emphasized, with significant subsidies for automobile and home appliance purchases, including up to 20,000 yuan for car scrapping and 1,500 yuan for home appliances [3] - Participation in subsidy programs resulted in the sale of 4,058 home appliances and 17,539 digital products during the holiday [3] Regional Initiatives - Various districts launched unique promotional activities, such as the "New Spring Shopping" event in Yuhuatai District, which successfully increased car sales enthusiasm [4] - In Gulou District, partnerships with major retailers led to a significant increase in foot traffic and sales, with a 12% increase in customer visits and a 15% rise in sales compared to the previous year [4] Event Coordination - The city organized multiple key activities, including the "Four Seasons Appointment" consumption season and a lottery for receipts, which spurred consumer engagement across various sectors [6] - Over 400 promotional events were held citywide, attracting more than 1 million visitors to major shopping areas during the holiday [7] Cultural and Tourism Integration - The integration of commerce, culture, tourism, and sports created immersive consumption experiences, with tourist numbers reaching 4.22 million, a 13.3% increase year-on-year [8] - Cultural events, such as the 40th Qinhuai Lantern Festival, were linked with shopping promotions, enhancing consumer engagement and driving sales [9] Food and Essential Goods - The food and essential goods market remained stable, with sufficient supply and price stability during the holiday period, ensuring consumer needs were met [11] - The wholesale price of vegetables decreased by 19.2% year-on-year, while pork prices also saw a significant drop, contributing to a favorable consumer environment [11][12]

Market Analysis by covering: Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, Walmart Inc, State Street® SPDR® S&P® Retail ETF. Read 's Market Analysis on Investing.com ...

Company Overview - Inflection has made its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker INFQ, raising $550 million through a SPAC merger to capitalize on the quantum computing opportunity [1][3][4]. Quantum Computing Phase - Inflection is currently in "phase one" of the quantum revolution, focusing on quantum sensing applications, with plans to develop large language models by 2028 [4][7]. Real-World Applications - The company has secured a deal with NASA to deploy sensors for gravity sensing, which can track environmental changes such as polar ice melting and aquifer depletion [9][10]. - Quantum technology is also being positioned as a backup for GPS timing systems, which are critical for synchronizing trades on the New York Stock Exchange [12]. Competitive Advantage - Inflection's use of neutral atoms as a flexible quantum modality allows for significant performance improvements in quantum sensing applications, contributing to projected revenues of $29 million in 2024 and $50 million in booked business for 2025 [14][15]. Geopolitical Context - The competition in quantum technology is intense, with the U.S. and China both investing heavily. The U.S. government recognizes quantum technology as a critical area for national security [17][18]. Future Risks - Quantum computers may eventually pose a risk to the security of blockchain technologies, including Bitcoin, due to their ability to solve complex calculations more efficiently than classical computers [19][20].

This is the world's third largest retailer, >> beaten only by Walmart and Amazon, but with a profit margin of only 12%, which is half of their competitors. How are they making money. >> Well, I'm here to find out.>> You can't even walk in without a membership, which costs $65. And then you're greeted with a maze-like layout, concrete floors, no music, and boxes everywhere. This just shouldn't work.But 90% of members renew every single year. Their private label, Kirkland, drives a third of all sales because ...

Matt Stucky That's a really good question. I think it's healthy broadening at this point. You know, the more that we see additional breadth, participation and ongoing uptrends in different segments of the market, the healthier the market is. And, you know, just to take a step back and look at kind of how narrow the market was over the last few years, between 20 or 30% of S&P 500 companies outperform the S&P 500 in 2023 through 2025.Caroline Woods Okay. So let's break that all down. As you said we're seeing ...

Core Insights - Investors are eagerly awaiting Q4 results from Walmart and Target, with Walmart reporting on February 19 and Target on March 3, following a record holiday shopping season [1] - Walmart's stock has surged approximately 30% in the past three months, while Target's stock is also rebounding after previous struggles [1][3] Walmart Performance Overview - Walmart has shown strong performance, attracting value-focused consumers due to lower sourcing costs and a robust omnichannel ecosystem with significant e-commerce growth [2] - The stock is trading near an all-time high of $134, having increased over 160% in the last three years, outperforming broader market indexes [4] Target Performance Overview - Target's stock is recovering after facing sales declines and brand challenges, implementing cost-cutting measures and store improvements to enhance competitiveness against Walmart and Amazon [3] - Despite a challenging period, Target's stock is considered undervalued, trading at 14X forward earnings compared to the S&P 500's 22X and the retail sector's 24X [10] Q4 Expectations - Walmart's Q4 sales are projected to rise 5% year-over-year to $189.99 billion, with earnings expected at $0.73 per share, a 10% increase from the previous year [7] - In contrast, Target's Q4 sales are anticipated to decline 1% to $30.54 billion, with earnings per share expected to drop 10% to $2.17 [8] Annual Projections - Walmart's annual sales for FY26 are expected to increase 4% to $711.46 billion, with full-year EPS projected to rise 5% to $2.64 [7] - Target's annual sales are forecasted to dip 1% to $104.87 billion, with full-year EPS expected to decrease 17% to $7.30 compared to $8.86 in FY25 [8] Dividend Insights - Target offers a higher annual dividend yield of 3.94%, significantly above the S&P 500's average of 1.09% and the retail sector's 0.73%, making it an attractive option for dividend investors [13] - Target has a longer history of dividend increases, having raised its dividend for 54 consecutive years compared to Walmart's 52 years [13] Investment Ratings - Target currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating potential for a rally leading up to its Q4 report [14] - Walmart has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting that stronger-than-expected Q4 results may be necessary to justify its higher P/E valuation [14]