Over the past few years, Kohl’s has struggled to attract customers to its stores, despite recent turnaround efforts to boost low sales. In response to these ongoing challenges, the retailer is rolling out a bold new section in all locations to win back a key customer group. In the third quarter of 2025, Kohl’s saw net sales decline by almost 3% year over year, according to its most recent earnings report. It also generated operating income of $73 million during the quarter, about 25% lower than what it ea ...

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York published a paper indicating that 90% of the costs from Trump's tariffs are borne by U.S. consumers and companies, contradicting the White House's stance that foreign exporters are responsible for these costs [1][3]. Group 1: Economic Analysis - The paper's findings suggest that foreign exporters are not absorbing tariff costs but are instead passing them on to American buyers [2][3]. - The National Economic Council director criticized the paper for its narrow focus on prices, arguing that it overlooked wage growth and benefits from onshoring [3]. Group 2: Public and Political Reaction - The comments from the National Economic Council director sparked a strong online reaction, with some commentators labeling the Trump economic team as divided and lacking credibility [4]. - The Tax Foundation estimated that tariffs would cost the average U.S. household $1,000 by 2025, aligning with the consensus that import taxes are primarily borne by domestic consumers [4]. Group 3: Market Predictions - Prediction markets indicate a 26% chance that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of Trump's tariffs, which could lead to refunds exceeding $130 billion and impact American trade policy [5]. - A separate market estimates an 18% chance that importers will receive refunds, suggesting limited expectations for consumer reimbursement even if the court rules against the tariffs [6]. Group 4: Retail Sector Insights - Traders are closely monitoring Walmart's upcoming earnings report for any commentary on tariffs, as the retailer has reached a record customer penetration of 72% of U.S. households, indicating a shift towards budget-conscious shopping [6].

CHICAGO, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cosmos Health Inc. ("Cosmos Health" or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:COSM), a diversified, vertically integrated global healthcare group, today announced a significant expansion of its United Kingdom (UK) retail footprint as its antimicrobial skin cleanser, C-Scrub Wash Chlorhexidine 4% (“C-Scrub”), is now available through Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer. Tesco is a leading multinational retail group operating across multiple markets and ranked among the top 20 retailer ...

Core Insights - Walmart is expected to adopt a cautious approach in its annual forecasts under new CEO John Furner, navigating a fragile consumer landscape while maintaining a strong market value of over $1 trillion, marking it as the first retailer to achieve this milestone [1][1][1] Management Changes - John Furner has taken over as CEO, with David Guggina, an Amazon alumnus, appointed as president and CEO of Walmart U.S., indicating a shift towards a more tech-driven strategy [1][1] - The management changes reflect Walmart's focus on AI-led digital transformation to compete with rivals like Amazon, Costco, and Aldi [1][1] Financial Performance - Walmart's fourth-quarter revenue is projected to reach $190.43 billion, with a 24% gain over the past year, significantly outperforming packaged food companies [1][1] - The company's price-to-earnings valuation has risen to approximately 45, higher than most peers, indicating strong investor confidence [1][1] Consumer Trends - Economic pressures have led consumers across income brackets to seek cheaper options, benefiting Walmart's value proposition and delivery services [1][1] - Higher-income shoppers have increasingly contributed to Walmart's U.S. sales growth, despite challenges faced by lower-income consumers [1][1] E-commerce and AI Investments - Walmart has expanded its online marketplace to over half a billion items and launched one-hour delivery services, enhancing its competitive edge against Amazon [1][1] - The company has partnered with OpenAI to integrate AI tools like ChatGPT, improving customer experience and boosting online sales growth [1][1] Store Traffic and Market Response - In-store traffic increased by 2.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025, with further acceleration noted in January 2026, indicating strong consumer engagement [1][1] - Following Walmart's market value milestone, several Wall Street brokerages have raised their target prices and profit estimates for the company [1][1]

US stocks edged higher Tuesday in volatile trading as Wall Street continued assessing the AI jitters that have hammered markets in recent weeks. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) flipped into the green to end 0.1% higher, recovering from steep losses early in the session. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose just above the flatline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was little changed. Apple (AAPL) shares gained more than 3% over optimism that the iPhone maker is ramping up development of wearable device ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco Wholesale is facing a proposed class action lawsuit regarding undisclosed salmonella risks associated with its rotisserie chicken sold at a Nebraska processing plant [1][3]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit claims that Costco's chicken processing facility in Fremont consistently fails to meet USDA safety standards, with testing data showing over 9.8% of whole chickens and 15.4% of chicken parts testing positive for Salmonella [2]. - The complaint seeks compensatory and triple damages for consumers who purchased Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken and raw chicken parts from January 1, 2019, onward, alleging breaches of Washington consumer protection laws [3]. Group 2: Sales and Financial Performance - Costco's rotisserie chicken is priced at $4.99, recognized as a loss leader to attract customers, with global sales exceeding 157 million units in 2025 [2]. - In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Costco reported net sales of $65.98 billion, an increase of 8.2% from $60.99 billion the previous year [4].

Core Insights - Walmart is transforming by adding convenience to its traditional low prices and large selections, positioning itself as a strong retail stock for the next decade [1] Group 1: Company Transformation - The company is enhancing customer experience through technology that improves order accuracy, speeds up delivery, and reduces out-of-stock items [2] - Walmart introduced Sparky, an AI assistant, in June 2025, which will expand its capabilities to include service booking and reordering [3] - Advanced mapping technology will allow 12 million more customers to access same-day delivery services [3] Group 2: Technology and Efficiency - The use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology has reduced out-of-stock items by 16% in RFID-enabled stores [3] - These technological upgrades are expected to lead to more frequent customer visits, translating into stronger sales growth and better long-term returns for shareholders [2] Group 3: Financial Performance - From 2016 to 2025, Walmart's stock grew at a compound annual rate of 18.5%, with an average annualized return of 20.7% when reinvesting dividends [5] - The company has raised its dividends for 52 consecutive years, contributing to its strong financial performance [5] Group 4: Future Outlook - Walmart's focus on convenience is expected to positively impact shareholder returns over the next decade [6]

Core Viewpoint - Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is experiencing significant stock performance, with shares up 24% over the past year and 12% year-to-date, indicating strong market confidence in the company [2]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - Oppenheimer raised Walmart's share price target to $140 from $125 while maintaining an Outperform rating [2]. - UBS increased its target to $135 from $122, also keeping a Buy rating [2]. - Tigress Financial raised its target to $135 from $130, maintaining a Buy rating as well [2]. Group 2: Operational Innovations - Walmart is successfully integrating artificial intelligence and automation into its operations, which is contributing to revenue growth and improved customer experience [2]. Group 3: Market Commentary - Jim Cramer has consistently highlighted Walmart's role in maintaining low prices for consumers, reflecting a positive outlook on traditional investing [3]. - Cramer compares the current market environment favorably to pre-FANG times, emphasizing the strength of established companies like Walmart [3].

Group 1: Walmart - Walmart serves over 270 million customers globally each week through its stores and websites [4] - The company reported a fiscal third-quarter operating profit of $7.2 billion, reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth [4] - Walmart generated free cash flow of $8.8 billion over the prior nine months, significantly exceeding its $5.6 billion dividend payout [5] - The company has a history of increasing dividends for over 50 consecutive years, earning the title of Dividend King [5] - Walmart's stock has increased by 169% over the past three years, outperforming the S&P 500's 70% gain [6] - The current dividend yield for Walmart is 0.7%, which is lower than the S&P 500's yield of 1.1% [6] Group 2: Macy's - Macy's is undergoing a turnaround plan that includes store revamps, closures, and a focus on luxury brands [7] - The company's fiscal third-quarter same-store sales increased by 3.4%, indicating early signs of effectiveness in its turnaround strategy [8]

Core Viewpoint - Walmart Inc. has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first retailer to reach a $1 trillion market valuation, reflecting strong performance and strategic positioning in the market [3]. Group 1: Financial Performance and Projections - Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh raised Walmart's price target to $140 from $125, maintaining an Outperform rating ahead of quarterly results, driven by expectations for a strong holiday season and steady business momentum [2]. - For fiscal 2026, Oppenheimer anticipates management will guide for 4% sales growth and 4% to 8% operating income growth, which is below the current market expectation of 11.3% operating income growth [2]. Group 2: Market Position and Consumer Appeal - Walmart's stock has increased by 476% over the past decade, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 269.2% increase, attributed to its ability to cater to both higher-income and lower-income consumers [3]. - The company has expanded its online marketplace to over half a billion items and launched Walmart+, enhancing its competitive position against Amazon [4]. Group 3: Technological Investments and Innovations - Walmart has invested billions in artificial intelligence and supply chain automation, leading to improved inventory management and delivery times, contributing to 15 consecutive quarters of U.S. same-store sales outperformance [5]. - The company has built a $4 billion advertising business that supports its margins, showcasing its commitment to leveraging technology for growth [4]. Group 4: Operational Structure - Walmart operates as a technology-enabled omnichannel retailer with retail and wholesale stores, e-commerce platforms, and mobile applications across multiple regions including the US, Africa, Canada, and India [6].