Kohl's became the latest meme stock rally this week. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) So why has Kohl's become the latest meme stock and why has retail been at the heart of many such runs? Getty Images Welcome back to meme retail share time, as department store retailer Kohl's meme stock became the latest unlikely name to unexpectedly and suddenly surge Tuesday. At its height, the retailer's stock more than doubled from Monday's close of $10.42 per share, only to see a lot of those gains wiped out as mar ...

Group 1 - Kohl's shares more than doubled in value, becoming one of the most-traded stocks on retail trading platforms, leading to a trading halt [1] - The stock is currently the No. 1 trending ticker on the retail investor forum Stocktwits [1] - Approximately 49% of Kohl's outstanding shares available for trading are shorted, indicating significant bearish sentiment [1][5] Group 2 - The trading volume for Kohl's reached about 87 million shares, which is 11 times its 25-day moving average volume, reminiscent of the 'meme-stock' rally from 2021 [3] - The recent surge in Kohl's stock price reflects a trend where retail investors are increasingly engaging with highly shorted stocks, often referred to as meme stocks [2][3] - Other highly shorted stocks, such as Opendoor Technologies, have also seen strong retail interest, with its shares up 10% and gaining over 300% in the past six sessions [4]

Core Viewpoint - Kohl's shares experienced a significant surge, driven by meme stock interest and a price target increase from Goldman Sachs, despite the bank maintaining a sell rating on the stock [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - As of 10:18 a.m. ET, Kohl's stock was up 28.9% with exceptionally high trading volume, having previously jumped as much as 105% in pre-market trading [2]. - Trading was halted due to a volatility trigger, indicating extreme market activity [2]. - Nearly the entire float of Kohl's, 104 million shares out of 112 million shares outstanding, had been traded before 10:30 a.m. ET [6]. Group 2: Meme Stock Dynamics - Kohl's fits the profile of a meme stock, characterized by being a small, consumer-facing company with a well-known brand and high short interest, which was 63% of the float as of mid-June [5]. - The recent surge in meme stocks, following Opendoor Technologies, suggests a renewed interest in this category [4]. Group 3: Company Challenges - Kohl's reported a net sales decline of 4.1% in the first quarter and anticipates comparable sales to decline by 4%-6% for the year, although it expects a modest profit [7]. - The company's current ratio is 1.1, indicating potential difficulties in meeting future financial obligations, especially if cash flow turns negative [8]. - The unlocking of purported real estate value may be challenging, as evidenced by similar situations with other retailers like Macy's [8].

Core Viewpoint - Kohl's Corp. experienced significant volatility in its stock price, reflecting characteristics of a meme stock, despite ongoing struggles in its business operations [1][3][5] Stock Performance - Kohl's shares surged over 100% from a closing price of $10.42 on Monday, but gains were largely erased shortly after the market opened [1] - By 10:30 a.m. ET, shares were still trading approximately 30% higher, with trading volume exceeding ten times the average of the past three months [2] Market Dynamics - There were no major corporate announcements or stock ratings influencing the stock's movement, but the high short interest of about 50% of outstanding shares contributed to its meme stock status [3] - Recent discussions on the Wall Street Bets forum indicated potential for a short squeeze, as retail investors recognized the stock's name and short interest [4] Business Challenges - Kohl's has been facing declining sales, increased competition, and is currently led by an interim CEO following the ousting of the former CEO due to a conflict of interest scandal [5] - The company projected a sales decline of 5% to 7% for fiscal 2025, with comparable sales expected to decrease between 4% and 6% [5]

A French operator that recently opened a flagship store in New York City thinks it has a better department-store model https://t.co/QXAXFMPMjr https://t.co/iU0w9Dk1JU ...

A French operator that recently opened a flagship store in New York City thinks it has a better department-store model https://t.co/5uI3cac50i ...

A French operator that recently opened a flagship store in New York City thinks it has a better department-store model https://t.co/mbYGAIY2hK ...

Economic Performance - In the first half of 2025, Guangzhou's economic performance improved compared to 2024, with positive trends in exports and retail sales [2] - From January to May 2025, Guangzhou's total retail sales reached 469.994 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.1% [3] Retail Innovation - Guangzhou has been recognized as a pilot city for retail innovation, supported by its strong commercial heritage and a large young population, with 1.68 million university students in 2024 [3] - The city is seeing significant investment in new commercial projects from leading operators like Swire, China Resources, and K11, enhancing the retail landscape [3] Shopping Center Upgrades - In 2026, Guangzhou will mark the fifth year of its initiative to build an international consumption center, with major shopping centers undergoing significant renovations to enhance competitiveness [4] - The focus of these upgrades is shifting from product-centered to consumer-centered experiences, emphasizing emotional value and spatial experience [4] Market Supply and Demand - In the second quarter, Guangzhou saw the addition of two community commercial projects, totaling 213,000 square meters, marking an 8.1% increase compared to the total supply in 2024 [5] - Retail property leasing activity is increasing, particularly in supermarkets and department stores, with notable changes in store formats and offerings [5] Rental Trends - In the first half of 2025, new retail brand leases accounted for 43% of total transactions, followed by dining (41%) and experiential formats (15%) [6] - Retail property rents in Guangzhou continued to decline, with a quarterly drop of 2.5% and a cumulative decrease of 3.6% in the first half of 2025, averaging 21.9 yuan per square meter per day [6] Future Developments - Four new retail projects, totaling approximately 300,000 square meters, are expected to enter the market in the second half of 2025, with a trend towards light asset operations [6]

Core Insights - The company reported a consolidated sales revenue of 232.8 million euros for Q2 2025, a decrease of 1.9% year-on-year, and 447.8 million euros for the first half of the year, down 2.4% compared to the same period in 2024 [1][2] - Profit before tax for Q2 2025 was 6.6 million euros, reflecting a 32.7% decline from the previous year, with a total profit before tax of 7.9 million euros for the first half, down 5.8 million euros year-on-year [1][2] - The challenging economic environment, including tax increases and cautious consumer spending, significantly impacted sales across various segments, particularly in the car segment due to a new car tax in Estonia [2][17] Supermarkets Segment - The Selver supermarkets segment achieved sales revenue of 155.7 million euros in Q2 2025, a 3.6% increase year-on-year, and 304.0 million euros for the first half, marking a 2.5% growth [6][7] - The average monthly sales revenue per square meter was 0.41 thousand euros in Q2 2025, a 0.9% increase overall and 2.2% for comparable stores [6] - The segment's profit before tax for the first half was 4.0 million euros, down 2.2 million euros compared to the previous year [7] Department Stores Segment - The department stores segment reported sales revenue of 25.7 million euros in Q2 2025, a 1.0% increase, but a pre-tax loss of 1.7 million euros for the first half, which is 0.7 million euros weaker than the previous year [12][13] - The average sales revenue per square meter for the first half was 0.30 thousand euros, down 1.8% year-on-year [13] Car Segment - The car segment's sales revenue for Q2 2025 was 45.1 million euros, a 16.6% decrease, with a total of 82.5 million euros for the first half, down 16.7% [16][17] - The introduction of a car tax in Estonia led to a 40% decline in the new car market volume, although the Group's performance in Latvia and Lithuania helped mitigate the overall impact [2][17] Security Segment - The security segment's sales revenue for Q2 2025 was 4.4 million euros, a decline of 24.1%, with a pre-tax loss of 0.3 million euros [19][20] - The segment faced challenges due to seasonal fluctuations in project volumes and rising input costs [20] Real Estate Segment - The real estate segment reported sales revenue of 1.9 million euros in Q2 2025, a 9.5% increase, with a pre-tax profit of 2.4 million euros, up 39.0% [21][22] - Growth was supported by rental income from a logistics center and new tenants boosting footfall [22][23] Financial Position - As of June 30, 2025, total assets were 667.8 million euros, down from 706.7 million euros at the end of 2024, with current liabilities decreasing to 127.1 million euros [25] - The company's equity decreased to 235.1 million euros from 261.5 million euros, reflecting a decline in retained earnings [25]

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