Core Viewpoint - The company has reported a positive performance in the second half of the 2025 financial year despite facing challenging market conditions, including consumer caution, geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, and persistent inflation in the U.S. and U.K. markets, particularly in food [2]. Group Performance - Primark's overall sales are expected to increase by 1% in the second half of the financial year, showing strong improvement in trading within the U.K. and Ireland [3]. - Total sales for Primark are anticipated to rise in the second half following a difficult first half, especially in the months after the budget announcement [3]. - The product offering has been strong, particularly in womenswear, contributing to the positive sales outlook [3].

Core Viewpoint - Tapestry Inc. has outlined its long-term growth strategy, named Amplify, which aims to increase revenue, expand margins, and enhance shareholder returns through 2028 [1][2]. Revenue and Earnings Growth - The company anticipates mid-single-digit annual revenue growth and low double-digit earnings per share gains for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 [2]. - Tapestry plans to return $4 billion to shareholders over the next three years through dividends and share buybacks [2][4]. Margin Expansion - Operating margins are projected to exceed 22% by fiscal 2028, representing an increase of over 200 basis points from 2025 [3]. - Coach brand is expected to achieve steady mid-single-digit revenue growth and expand margins, with a long-term sales target of $10 billion [4]. Brand Strategy - The strategy is focused on attracting younger consumers, enhancing brand loyalty, and expanding internationally [2]. - Kate Spade is projected to return to profitable revenue growth in fiscal 2027 and accelerate further in 2028 [4]. Financial Outlook - Tapestry reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 outlook, assuming stable U.S. trade policies and consumer confidence without significant inflationary pressures [5]. - The company announced a new $3 billion share repurchase authorization and plans to maintain an annual dividend of $1.60 per share in fiscal 2026 [4]. Market Performance - TPR shares were trading higher by 0.49% to $105.70 in premarket trading [6].

Group 1: Tariff and Trade Developments - The Supreme Court will hear the White House's appeal regarding the legality of many of President Trump's tariffs in the first week of November [1] - President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi are negotiating to address trade barriers between the US and India, with both leaders expressing commitment to conclude discussions soon [2] Group 2: Company Performance and Developments - Apple shares fell approximately 1.5% following the announcement of the iPhone 17 and its new models [3] - Microsoft is reportedly shifting to use Anthropic's AI tools for its Office 365 suite, while maintaining its long-term partnership with OpenAI [4][5] - GameStop's profits increased significantly due to a 63% rise in collectibles revenue compared to the previous year [5]

Core Insights - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has shown significant growth, with a 45% increase over the past five years and over 130% in the last ten years, driven by the quality of its holdings and stock buyback programs [1][3][6] - The ETF is based on the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which emphasizes reliable dividend payments, cash flow, and return on equity, distinguishing it from traditional cap-weighted funds [2][4] - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF has approximately $100 billion in assets and focuses on reliable dividend growers, with notable holdings including Broadcom, Microsoft, and JPMorgan, and has seen its quarterly payments nearly double over the past decade [7][8] - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF has produced a 186% price increase over the last ten years, benefiting from the rise of technology stocks [9] - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF currently has a modest yield of 2.5%, which is below expectations, and has been affected by the performance of its largest holdings [13][15][17] ETF Performance and Characteristics - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF offers a trailing yield of just under 3.8%, appealing to income-focused investors, although higher yields can be found elsewhere [3][6] - The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF's yield is relatively low at just over 1.6%, primarily due to its selection criteria that exclude high-yield stocks [10][11][12] - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF's yield has decreased significantly since late 2023, as its largest holdings have outperformed in the broader market [15][16][17] Investment Considerations - Dividend stocks and ETFs provide a simpler solution for investors seeking reliable income that grows over time, with ETFs being less hassle than individual stock purchases [5] - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF is recommended for income investors seeking relative safety, despite trailing the S&P 500 in performance when dividends are not reinvested [6] - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF may not be a suitable investment currently due to its underwhelming yield and market conditions affecting its performance [13][17]

Economic Outlook - JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon indicated that the U.S. economy is experiencing a slowdown, with uncertainty about whether it is heading towards a recession [1] - A preliminary report showed that U.S. employers added 911,000 fewer jobs in the year through March than previously reported, suggesting a weaker labor market [1][1] Market Performance - Wall Street's major indexes closed higher, with UnitedHealth Group surging over +8% after announcing that 78% of its Medicare Advantage members are expected to enroll in top-rated plans next year [2] - Atlassian Corp. climbed more than +5% after announcing plans to transition customers to its cloud platform [2] - Nebius jumped over +49% after securing a deal worth up to $19.4 billion with Microsoft for AI infrastructure [2] Corporate Developments - Oracle's stock surged over +29% in pre-market trading after projecting that booked revenue from its core cloud business would exceed half a trillion dollars [3][14] - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported a 34% increase in August revenue, reflecting strong global demand for advanced AI chips [15] Economic Indicators - The U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) is anticipated to show a +0.3% month-over-month increase and a +3.3% year-over-year increase, compared to previous figures of +0.9% month-over-month [6] - U.S. Wholesale Inventories data is expected to remain unchanged at +0.2% month-over-month [7] International Developments - China's consumer prices fell at their fastest pace in six months, with the August CPI unchanged month-over-month and down -0.4% year-over-year [11][12] - Fitch Ratings raised its 2025 growth forecast for China to 4.7%, up from 4.2% [11]

Core Viewpoint - Shares in Associated British Foods (ABF) fell by 9.7% to £20.23 due to underwhelming sales forecasts from its Primark retail division [2] Group 1: Primark Performance - Primark's sales are expected to rise by 1% in the second half, with growth anticipated to be evenly distributed across Q3 and Q4 [2] - On a like-for-like basis, Primark's sales are projected to decline by 2% year-on-year, with a drop of 2.4% in Q3 and around 2% in Q4 [3] - UK and Irish sales have improved from the first half, attributed to strong product offerings, particularly in womenswear, and increased digital engagement [3] - The US market is described as "strong," while Europe is experiencing a more subdued consumer environment [3] - For the full year, Primark's total sales are expected to rise by 1%, with a store rollout program projected to drive sales growth of approximately 4% [3] Group 2: Grocery and Ingredients - Grocery revenues are expected to remain unchanged in the second half compared to the prior year, with growth in international brands offset by lower sales in Allied Bakeries and US oils [4] - Ingredients sales are also anticipated to be flat year-on-year, with good underlying growth in yeast and bakery ingredients, but impacted by currency devaluation and lower inflation in Argentina [5] Group 3: Sugar Segment - The Sugar segment is expected to record an adjusted operating loss of £40 million for the full year, with profits projected to improve in financial 2027 [6] - Sales and profits in the UK and Spain have significantly declined due to low European sugar prices and high beet costs [5][6] Group 4: Strategic Actions and Market Outlook - The CEO expressed satisfaction with the group's performance in a challenging environment marked by consumer caution, geopolitical uncertainty, and inflation [6] - Recent strategic actions include restructuring the Spanish sugar business, closing the Vivergo bioethanol plant, and acquiring Hovis Group to enhance breadmaking operations [6] - Analyst Mark Crouch noted that while Primark has historically thrived, current updates raise concerns about slowing sales growth in Europe and flat performance in the UK [7] - The acquisition of Hovis could provide a strategic lift, as it is less exposed to commodity swings and offers potential for scale-driven margin gains [7]

Core Insights - The article highlights consumer stocks that offer high dividend yields and potential for stock price recovery as economic conditions improve [1][2]. Group 1: Realty Income - Realty Income is known as the "monthly dividend company," maintaining consistent dividend payments since 1994, with a current yield of approximately 5.4% [4]. - The company owns nearly 15,600 properties, with a leasing rate of almost 99%, providing steady income as tenants cover maintenance and other costs [5]. - Despite a stock price decline of over 25% from its all-time high due to rising interest rates, Realty Income's profitability remains strong, with earnings of $4.11 per share in funds from operations (FFO), trading at 14 times its trailing FFO [6]. - The potential for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve may allow the company to refinance debt and fund new developments, possibly catalyzing stock recovery [7]. Group 2: Target - Target has experienced a significant decline in stock value, losing nearly two-thirds since late 2021 due to economic uncertainty and supply chain issues [9]. - Despite the challenges, Target has a 54-year streak of annual dividend increases, with a current payout of $4.56 per share, yielding over 4.8% [10]. - The company generated $2.9 billion in free cash flow, exceeding the $2.0 billion spent on dividends, indicating sustainability of its payout [10]. - Target's P/E ratio of 11 is notably lower than Walmart's 38, suggesting that the stock price may already reflect its challenges [11]. Group 3: PepsiCo - PepsiCo, a major player in the beverage and food industry, has faced a 25% decline in stock value over the past two years due to changing consumer preferences [12]. - The company has maintained a 53-year streak of dividend increases, with a current annual payout of $5.69 per share, yielding about 3.75% [13]. - PepsiCo generated nearly $7.1 billion in free cash flow, close to the $7.5 billion spent on dividends, with sufficient liquidity of $8.0 billion to cover payouts [13]. - The company's forward P/E ratio of 18 suggests it is reasonably priced, making it an attractive option for investors seeking income while the company works on product line improvements [14].

US stocks eyed fresh all-time highs on Wednesday as Oracle's (ORCL) blowout revenue forecast lifted AI hopes, as Wall Street waited for a wholesale inflation reading seen as unlikely to reset rate-cut bets. Futures on the S&P 500 (ES=F) climbed 0.3%, while those on the Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) edged up 0.2%, on the heels of record closing highs. Contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F), which includes fewer tech stocks, slipped 0.2%. Oracle stunned Wall Street as its CEO said its cloud revenue will ...

Core Insights - Employers are more inclined to train workers on artificial intelligence (AI) rather than replace them, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York [1][4] - A survey indicated an increase in AI usage among businesses, with minimal layoffs reported, as companies focus on retraining employees [2][3] AI Adoption and Workforce Impact - The survey revealed that while some companies reduced hiring due to AI, others increased hiring for positions requiring AI skills [2] - Predictions of AI-related layoffs were made by a few employers, but past survey data suggests that such expectations may not materialize [3] - AI usage varies significantly by industry, with over 50% of firms in information, finance, and professional services utilizing AI, while less than half in sectors like wholesale, leisure, and retail reported similar usage [3] Job Market Implications - The Federal Reserve researchers noted that the adjustments in workforce due to AI are unlikely to have major immediate effects on the job market, as the findings pertain only to 25-40% of firms using AI [4] - The overall impact on employment is expected to be modest, with both positive and negative effects possible [4]

Group 1: Gold Price Trends - Gold futures opened at $3,672.80 per ounce on Friday, reflecting a 1% increase from Thursday's close of $3,636.90, and reached a high of $3,695.50 that morning [1][2] - The current price of gold has increased by 2.9% from the opening price of $3,567.80 one week ago and has risen 9.4% over the past month from $3,356.20 on August 12, 2025 [3] - Year-over-year, gold prices have surged by 45.2% from the opening price of $2,529.10 on September 12, 2024 [3] Group 2: Market Influences - Gold prices did not react significantly to a higher-than-expected Consumer Price Index report for August, which showed a 0.4% increase after a 0.2% rise in July [2] - Despite inflation concerns, investors anticipate the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates next week due to a weakening employment situation in the U.S., which could further drive gold prices higher [2] - Lower interest rates enhance gold's attractiveness compared to cash and fixed income, while its status as a safe-haven asset increases demand during price rises [2] Group 3: Investment Opportunities - Costco has begun selling gold bars, silver coins, and platinum bars, providing a convenient option for investors looking to diversify their wealth [5][6] - The club store first introduced gold bars in 2023, followed by silver and platinum, with all three precious metals showing substantial price increases in 2025 [6] - Analysts remain bullish on gold, with Goldman Sachs predicting a price of $3,700 per troy ounce by year-end 2025, representing a 40% increase from the January 2 opening price of $2,633 [10]