Highlights Walmart's strong performance in eCommerce, including a 21% jump in U.S. sales and the achievement of U.S. eCommerce profitability for the first time, is seen as a key factor that can help offset cost pressures from tariffs and supply chain issues. Tariffs are identified as an “immediate challenge” creating “unprecedented” cost pressure that Walmart cannot fully absorb due to narrow retail margins, particularly those on China. This dynamic backdrop makes forecasting future earnings “difficult ...

Walmart (WMT -1.10%) beat estimates for the quarter, but the retail giant warned of price hikes on the horizon because of tariffs.Investors are heeding the caution, sending Walmart shares down 3% as of 10:30 a.m. ET. Too much for even Walmart to absorbWalmart earned $0.61 per share on revenue of $165.6 billion in the quarter, topping Wall Street's $0.58 per share on $164 billion expectations and reporting revenue up 2.5% year over year. Global e-commerce sales were up 22% year over year, and membership inco ...

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Walmart said Thursday it plans to increase prices this month as tariffed goods start to hit shelves — warning that the size and speed of the price hikes could be “unprecedented”.The Arkansas-based retail giant has already started raising markups on certain items as suppliers pass along the additional costs. Bananas, for example, jumped to 54 cents a pound, up from 50 cents, according to Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey.“The magnitude and speed at which these prices are coming to us is somew ...

Target's former chief diversity officer is weighing in on the backlash the retailer has faced over its rollback of DEI policies. Caroline Wanga, who left Target in 2020 and is now CEO of Essence, told NBC's Today show on Friday that Target "didn't walk away from DEI. They trained it.""If you do this thing right, you create a way that gives goals that can be measured to incent people into the behavior," she said. "Eventually the goal goes away because the behavior is embedded and you pick the next thing." ...

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Group 1: Walmart - Walmart's stock has outperformed the market over the past year, with a 5% revenue increase and a 3% rise in store traffic in fiscal Q4, building on a previous year's 4% boost [4][5] - E-commerce sales increased by 16%, and digital advertising grew by 24%, showcasing Walmart's technological advancements and investments in AI for efficiency [4][5] - Operating profit rose by 8%, leading to a 13% increase in the annual dividend for 2025, marking the largest hike in over a decade [5][6] Group 2: Micron Technology - Micron Technology is positioned strongly in the AI hardware market, being the only provider of low-power memory chips for data centers, which is crucial for large computing systems [7][9] - The company is trading over 50% below its all-time highs, with a modest valuation of 7 times forward earnings estimates, presenting a potential buying opportunity [10] - CEO Sanjay Mehrotra stated that Micron is in its best competitive position in history, with its products firmly integrated into high-value customer roadmaps [10] Group 3: Starbucks - Starbucks reported a 2% increase in consolidated revenue but missed earnings estimates, with non-GAAP EPS down 40% and operating margins at 8.2% [11][12] - The company faces challenges in consumer spending and performance in China, but management remains optimistic about long-term strategies focused on employee investment and customer experience [12][15] - Despite current struggles, Starbucks has a dividend yield of 3% and a history of 14 consecutive years of dividend increases, making it attractive for patient investors [16] Group 4: NextEra Energy - NextEra Energy operates Florida Power & Light, the largest utility in the U.S., and is a leader in renewable energy, with a 9% growth in adjusted EPS reported for Q1 [18][19] - The company plans to invest $8 billion to $8.8 billion in FPL this year and aims for a renewables generation and storage capacity of 70 GW by the end of 2027 [19][20] - NextEra Energy expects adjusted EPS growth of 6% to 8% through 2027 and a dividend growth of around 10%, with a current yield of 3.4% [20] Group 5: Enbridge - Enbridge's shares have increased nearly 10% year-to-date, building on an 18% rise in 2024, attributed to the stability of its business model [21][22] - The company has met or exceeded financial guidance for 19 consecutive years, providing predictable cash flows despite market volatility [22] - Enbridge anticipates a 7% to 9% increase in adjusted EBITDA through 2026, supported by growth drivers such as toll escalators and contributions from its natural gas utilities [24][25]

Core Insights - Walmart is enhancing support for American-made products through its "Grow With US" initiative, aimed at assisting U.S. small business owners with training, mentorship, and resources for success [1][2] - The initiative includes a four-step program providing financial assistance, e-learning modules, product showcasing opportunities, and mentorship connections [2] - Over two-thirds of Walmart's total product spend in fiscal year 2024 was on items grown, made, or assembled in America, highlighting the importance of small businesses as they account for over 60% of Walmart's U.S. suppliers [5][11] Group 1 - "Grow With US" initiative is part of Walmart's expanding commitment to small business development [2] - The program aligns with similar initiatives in other countries, such as Vriddhi in India and Crece con Walmart in Mexico [4] - Walmart aims to simplify the process for small businesses to collaborate with them, acknowledging the complexities involved [7] Group 2 - Applications for Walmart's annual Open Call event, allowing U.S. businesses to pitch American-made products, will open on June 24, with the event scheduled for October [8] - The announcement follows the opening of Milo's Tea Company's new $200 million manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina, supported by Walmart [10] - Walmart emphasizes the role of small businesses as the backbone of communities, citing success stories like that of Milo's Tea [11]

Company Overview - Costco and Home Depot are two of the largest retailers globally, with a combined market cap of $770 billion as of April 21 [1] - Costco focuses on general merchandise, while Home Depot specializes in DIY and professional home improvement products [1] Costco Performance - In fiscal Q2 2025, Costco reported a 6.8% year-over-year increase in same-store sales, driven by increased foot traffic and strong growth in categories like home furnishings, gold and jewelry, and appliances [3] - Costco's membership model has resulted in a loyal customer base, with 78.4 million households contributing to $1.2 billion in membership fee income [4] - The company has a consistent profit generation capability, offering regular dividends and special one-time payouts, the latest being $15 per share in January 2024 [5] Home Depot Performance - Home Depot generated $159.5 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024, significantly outperforming competitors like Lowe's [6] - The company is facing challenges, with same-store sales expected to rise only 1% this fiscal year after a decline of 1.8% in fiscal 2024 [7] - Home Depot's long-term prospects are supported by the aging U.S. housing stock and significant untapped home equity for upgrades [8] Comparative Analysis - Costco is viewed as a more resilient business compared to Home Depot, as its demand is less sensitive to macroeconomic conditions, while Home Depot's performance is closely tied to the housing market [9] - Despite Costco's perceived strength, Home Depot is considered a better investment based on valuation, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.2 compared to Costco's 55.9 [10] - Some investors may prioritize owning high-quality businesses regardless of valuation, suggesting a dollar-cost averaging strategy for purchasing shares [11]

Core Insights - Target Corporation is launching its first standalone floral brand, Good Little Garden, to expand its floral offerings and cater to consumer demand for fresh flowers and plants year-round, starting at $6 [1][8] Product Offering - Good Little Garden includes over 60 options of fresh flowers and potted plants, designed for both seasonal occasions and everyday enjoyment [2][3] - The brand features bouquets of fresh-cut roses, tulips, and mixed flowers starting at $6, with potted plants like succulents and orchids starting at $15 [9] Market Growth - Since the introduction of seasonal florals in 2020, Target's floral sales have tripled, indicating a strong consumer interest in floral products [3] In-Store Events - To celebrate the launch of Good Little Garden, Target will host in-store events on April 27, including giveaways and a "build your own bouquet" experience [4] Shopping Experience - Good Little Garden products are available in Target stores nationwide and can be purchased through same-day services like Drive Up and Order Pickup, with delivery options for Target Circle 360 members [5] Company Background - Target Corporation operates nearly 2,000 stores and has a long-standing commitment to community support, donating 5% of its profits [6]