Company Closures and Layoffs - CNH Industrial America is closing its Burlington, Iowa plant, resulting in 209 layoffs by May 2026 due to lower backhoe demand [1] - Continental Tire of America will close its Barnesville, Georgia manufacturing plant, laying off 235 employees by the end of 2026, citing long-standing cost-competitiveness issues [2] - Alton Steel Inc. will cease operations in Alton, Illinois, impacting approximately 253 employees, due to structural challenges in the domestic steel industry [3] - Macy's Inc. will close its Owasso, Oklahoma fulfillment center by the end of March, resulting in 993 layoffs as part of a supply chain modernization effort [4] - King Delivery LLC is closing operations in Brooklyn, New York, leading to 153 layoffs [6] - Fresenius USA Manufacturing will lay off 165 employees across three distribution centers due to the divestiture of parts of its logistics operation [7][8] - Kuehne+Nagel Inc. plans to close its Locust Grove, Georgia logistics operation, resulting in 153 layoffs [9] - Legacy Supply Chain is laying off 129 employees across five California locations [10] - American Eagle Outfitters is shutting down its La Palma fulfillment center, eliminating 108 jobs [11][12] - FTI Buyer LLC will close its Cincinnati facility, laying off 104 employees [13] - First Brands Group is closing its Arlington facility, affecting 88 employees [14] - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plans to close its Tall Timbers Mold facility in Findlay, Ohio, resulting in 85 layoffs [15] - Lighteum Medical is laying off 83 employees at its San Diego facility [16] - Plug Power Inc. filed a WARN notice for a mass layoff at its Houston facility, affecting 74 employees [17] - Great Lakes Coca-Cola Distribution will lay off 62 employees in Lansing, Michigan [18] - Waddington North America is closing a facility in Bremen, Georgia, eliminating 49 jobs [19] - Turf Care Supply Corp. will close its blending department, eliminating 46 jobs [20] - Automated Harvesting LLC is closing its Yuma operations, laying off 46 workers [21] - H4 Logistics LLC is closing its Kenosha facility, resulting in 41 layoffs [22] - Tekni-Plex plans to close its Milwaukee facility, impacting 39 employees [23] - GXO Logistics will close its Romeoville facility, laying off 32 workers [25] Industry Trends - Weak consumer demand, excess capacity, contract losses, and network consolidation are leading shippers and logistics providers to shrink operations [5] - Manufacturers tied to industrial freight are cutting output amid slower order volumes and tighter capital conditions, reflecting a freight market struggling to regain momentum [5]

Group 1 - The recent selloff in global software stocks was triggered by the launch of a new AI "agent" by Anthropic, which surprised investors and highlighted the market's increasing discrimination between AI winners and losers [3] - Walmart became the first retailer to surpass a market valuation of $1 trillion, with its shares rising nearly 26% over the past year, positioning it among tech giants [2] - Novo Nordisk's shares fell almost 20% after the company warned about its profit outlook for the year due to intense competition in the weight-loss drug market [5] Group 2 - Major Wall Street indexes experienced a decline of about 1%, with Nasdaq futures remaining negative, indicating a broader market concern [4] - The ISM manufacturing index showed a sharp increase, suggesting signs of accelerating economic activity, alongside brisk business loan growth reported by the Fed [5] - Upcoming reports include ISM's service sector data and ADP's private sector jobs report, which are anticipated to provide further insights into the economic landscape [6]

Core Viewpoint - The "Guangdong Goods Going Global: The Most Guangzhou New Year" series of activities is actively promoting consumer engagement in Tianhe District, showcasing a blend of local culture, fashion, and technological innovation to create a vibrant New Year atmosphere [1] Group 1: Consumer Engagement Activities - Tianhe District has organized over 88 promotional activities in collaboration with more than 30 large commercial complexes to enhance consumer experience during the New Year [1] - The introduction of "first stores" and "first exhibitions" in the Tianhe Road business district continues to attract foot traffic and showcase innovative local products [2][3] - The "Alfons Mucha Masterpieces Century Retrospective" exhibition at Guangzhou K11 Shopping Art Center features over 200 original works, highlighting the peak beauty of the Art Nouveau movement [2] Group 2: Cultural Integration and Innovation - The integration of non-heritage elements into commercial spaces is a key feature of the New Year activities, allowing traditional crafts to be experienced in modern shopping environments [6] - The "Non-Heritage New Year: Taste of Chinese New Year" event successfully combined non-heritage crafts with commercial and tourism elements, featuring over 130 non-heritage projects and 60 inheritors [6] - The "Flower Street" event, a traditional activity for the New Year, returns to Tianhe Sports Center, incorporating cultural interactions and quality stalls to enhance the festive experience [6][8] Group 3: Technological Enhancements - Tianhe District is creating immersive shopping experiences by blending traditional and modern elements, utilizing technology to enhance consumer interaction [9] - The "Hai Xin Sha Technology Island" is Guangzhou's first all-space intelligent experience center, allowing visitors to interact with robots and drones, showcasing cutting-edge technology applications [13] Group 4: Consumer Incentives - The district is implementing a combination of government subsidies, platform discounts, and brand promotions to lower consumer spending barriers and stimulate purchasing power [14] - Various commercial platforms are offering significant discounts and promotional activities, such as the "Code to Spend" campaign at Parc Central, which provides group purchase subsidies for beauty and fashion brands [14]

Core Viewpoint - Consumer stocks are recognized for their ability to generate substantial dividend income, supported by a loyal customer base that ensures consistent profits and cash flow for shareholders [1]. Group 1: Realty Income - Realty Income is a REIT focused on single-tenant commercial properties, with over 15,500 properties and a client base including Home Depot and Dollar General [3][4]. - The company has maintained a monthly dividend since 1994, currently paying $3.24 per share annually, resulting in a dividend yield of 5.3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.1% [4][6]. - Realty Income's stock trades at 15 times its FFO income, indicating potential for stock price appreciation alongside its generous dividend [7]. Group 2: Target - Target operates nearly 2,000 locations across the U.S., with over 75% of Americans living within 10 miles of a store [8]. - Despite recent struggles, including inventory issues and political controversies, Target has a P/E ratio of 13, which is lower than competitors like Walmart and Costco [9][12]. - As a Dividend King with 54 years of dividend increases, Target's annual payout is $4.56 per share, yielding 4.3%, and plans for a $5 billion investment in store remodels and technology could revitalize the business [12][13]. Group 3: Clorox - Clorox is known for its cleaning products and other brands like Kingsford and Burt's Bees, but faced challenges post-pandemic, including inflation and a cyberattack [14]. - The stock price decline has resulted in a P/E ratio of 18, near a multiyear low, while the annual dividend payout of $4.96 per share yields 4.4% [15][16]. - Improvements from an ERP implementation could enhance efficiencies, and brand loyalty may support Clorox's recovery despite inflation concerns [17].

Market Overview - The S&P 500 is down 1.1%, indicating a risk-off sentiment across asset classes, while the Russell 2000 is down only 0.6%, suggesting a rotation trade favoring smaller companies [1] - Gold has rebounded by 5.6%, reflecting volatility in the metal space, while Bitcoin remains under pressure [1] - The AI sector has faced scrutiny, with major companies like NVIDIA and Microsoft experiencing declines, raising questions about the sustainability of AI-driven growth [1] Economic Impact of AI - The AI boom has significantly contributed to U.S. GDP growth, accounting for at least half of the growth rate in the first three quarters of the year, with projections suggesting it could swell to two-thirds of GDP by 2025 [1] - Investors are beginning to question the effectiveness of AI spending on company earnings, indicating a shift in sentiment towards more fundamental investments [1] Sector Performance - The software industry is experiencing a shift in investor sentiment, with concerns that companies heavily invested in AI may not deliver on promised returns, leading to a cautious outlook [3] - The healthcare and software sectors are identified as fast-growing areas, with private equity managers focusing on optimizing returns through NAV financing [3] Commodities and Metals - The commodities market, particularly gold and silver, is experiencing volatility, with gold being viewed as a diversification asset while silver is seen as more cyclical [2] - The recent increase in oil prices, driven by geopolitical tensions, has added complexity to the commodities landscape [2] Corporate Developments - USA Rare Earth Inc. has secured a $1.6 billion funding commitment as part of a broader $12 billion initiative to reduce reliance on Chinese minerals, with plans to begin metal production by 2027 and magnet production by 2028 [6] - Netflix is under scrutiny regarding its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with concerns about potential monopolistic behavior in the streaming market [4]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. stock market experienced a collective decline, with major indices such as the Dow Jones falling by 0.34%, the Nasdaq by 1.43%, and the S&P 500 by 0.83% [1] Sector Performance - Technology stocks saw significant declines, with Broadcom dropping over 3%, and major players like Microsoft, Nvidia, and Meta each falling by more than 2% [1] - In contrast, sectors such as rare earths, non-ferrous metals, and precious metals showed strong performance, with gold resources increasing by over 20%, Southern Copper rising by more than 11%, Americas Silver up over 8%, and Pan American Silver gaining over 5% [1] - Application software, cryptocurrency, and weight loss drug stocks faced the largest declines, with Novo Nordisk falling over 14%, Coinbase and Circle each dropping over 4%, and Eli Lilly and Pfizer decreasing by more than 3% [1] Notable Company Movements - Walmart's stock rose by 2.94%, marking a significant milestone as its market capitalization surpassed the $1 trillion mark for the first time [1]

Core Insights - FEMSA is set to hold its Fourth Quarter Conference Call on February 25, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time [1] - The quarterly results will be released on the same day before markets open [3] Company Overview - FEMSA operates in the retail industry through its Proximity Americas Division, which includes the OXXO small-format store chain, and Proximity Europe, which encompasses Valora, a European retail unit [3] - The company also has a Health Division that includes drugstores and digital financial services initiatives like Spin by OXXO and Spin Premia [3] - In the beverage sector, FEMSA is the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola products globally by volume through Coca-Cola FEMSA [3] - The company employs over 392,000 individuals across 18 countries and is recognized in various sustainability indices, including the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index and FTSE4Good Emerging Index [3]

Core Viewpoint - The article draws parallels between gold and silver markets and the behavior of meme stocks like GameStop, highlighting how both have experienced significant price volatility and speculative trading patterns [1]. Group 1: Market Behavior - Metals such as gold and silver have seen historic declines followed by substantial gains, similar to the price movements observed in meme stocks [1]. - There are ongoing debates regarding the true underlying value of these metals, reflecting the uncertainty that also surrounds meme stocks [1]. Group 2: Market Concerns - Concerns are raised about leverage and retail exposure in the metals market, which could impact broader financial markets if there is a sharp reversal in prices [1].

BJ's, Kroger, and 8 Other Stocks to Benefit From Retail's Slump - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# BJ's, Kroger and 8 Other Stocks to Benefit From Retail's SlumpBy [Ian Salisbury]ShareResize---ReprintsIn this article[SPY][BJ][K ...

Market Overview - The stock market experienced significant selling pressure, particularly in high-flying tech stocks, as traders reacted to rising oil prices [1][2] - A rotation into other sectors began at the start of the year and accelerated during the recent trading session [1] Sector Performance - While top tech and AI stocks faced declines, other sectors saw gains, with FedEx rising over 5% and retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco increasing by up to 2% [2] - The Cboe volatility index rose nearly 20% due to escalating tensions in the Middle East following the US's downing of an Iranian drone [2] Oil Prices and Economic Impact - Brent crude oil prices increased by 2% to approximately $67.50 per barrel, marking an 11% rise from December's lows, while US oil prices also rose by 2% to about $63.50 per barrel [3] - Higher oil prices are feared to exert renewed upward pressure on inflation, potentially impacting the US economy [3][4] Tech Sector Concerns - Major tech stocks, including Microsoft, faced declines as investors expressed concerns over high capital expenditures on artificial intelligence without clear returns [5] - The volatility in the AI sector is noted, with fluctuations in enthusiasm impacting investor sentiment [4] Geopolitical Factors - Investors are closely monitoring oil prices amid geopolitical tensions with major crude producers like Venezuela and Iran, raising concerns about potential supply disruptions and economic activity [6]