Economic Overview - US stock futures showed little change following economic data indicating a pullback in consumer spending, with retail purchases rising by 2.1% in September after a 0.6% gain in August [1][31] - Wholesale inflation data indicated a moderate month-over-month increase, which is seen as a positive sign for the Federal Reserve's efforts against inflation and potential rate cuts in December [2][34] Company Performance - Nvidia's stock fell after reports that Meta is considering using Google's AI chips, which could challenge Nvidia's market position [2][6] - Meta is reportedly in talks to spend billions on Google's AI chips for its data centers, potentially establishing Google's TPUs as an alternative to Nvidia's GPUs [3] - Alphabet has emerged as the best-performing stock among the "Magnificent 7," with shares rising 35% since mid-October, adding over $1.5 trillion to its market cap [3][10] Retail Sector Insights - Dick Sporting Goods' stock declined due to concerns over its acquisition of Foot Locker for approximately $2.5 billion, despite comparable sales at Dick stores rising more than expected [4][26] - Best Buy reported its highest same-store sales growth in nearly three years, up 2.7%, driven by consumer demand for product upgrades, leading to an increased full-year sales outlook [21][23] - Kohl's has raised its full-year outlook for the second consecutive quarter, indicating stability under new CEO Michael Bender [5][21] Market Trends - The S&P 500 is up 14% year-to-date, with December historically being a strong month for the index, although some consolidation may be expected in early December [17][19] - Retail sales data for September suggested a cooling in consumer spending, with control sales (excluding autos and gas) increasing by only 0.1% compared to 0.6% in August [31][32] Consumer Behavior - Despite mixed signals from individual retailers, overall consumer spending remains resilient, with discretionary spending still occurring in the economy [32][52] - The Producer Price Index (PPI) showed a cooler-than-expected increase, which may support the narrative for a potential rate cut by the Federal Reserve [34][36]

U.S. stock markets are experiencing a mixed open on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, following a strong rally on Monday driven by renewed optimism for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut and a significant rebound in artificial intelligence (AI) related stocks. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average shows a slight positive movement, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite and the broader S&P 500 are drifting lower in early trading as investors digest fresh economic data and a shift in sentiment for some semiconductor gia ...

We recently published Jim Cramer Discussed These 11 Stocks & Commented On A Market Reversal. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer discussed. As is generally the case, Cramer ended up discussing Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) as he mentioned Walmart. Despite the fact that the retailer's shares have struggled recently, Cramer has continued to hold the stock for his charitable trust. In fact, he has gone as far as to comment that Costco Wholesale Corporation ...

Group 1: Market Performance - The tech sector experienced a strong rebound, with all "Mag 7" stocks increasing, including Tesla (TSLA) up by +7% and Alphabet (GOOGL) rising +6% to a new all-time high due to advancements in its Gemini 3 AI system [1] - Bitcoin (BTC) rose by +1.7% to approximately $89K, indicating a temporary halt to the anticipated "crypto winter," with Robinhood (HOOD) gaining +7% and the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) increasing by +5.5% [2] - Agilent (A) reported fiscal Q4 earnings of $1.59 per share, meeting expectations, while revenues of $1.86 billion exceeded the anticipated $1.83 billion [3] Group 2: Earnings Reports - Zoom Communications (ZM) surpassed earnings expectations with $1.52 per share against a consensus of $1.43, and revenues of $1.23 billion exceeded projections of $1.21 billion, leading to a +3.5% increase in shares [4] - Upcoming earnings reports from specialty retailers such as Best Buy (BBY), Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), and Alibaba (BABA) are anticipated, with BABA currently rated as a Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) [6] Group 3: Economic Indicators - Key economic data releases are expected, including delayed Retail Sales and PPI numbers for September, as well as Case-Shiller Home Prices and Pending Home Sales [7] - The labor market data, particularly the ADP's new 4-week employment change, could significantly influence market sentiment, especially if continued weak labor numbers are reported [9]

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is included among the 15 Best Long Term Stocks to Buy According to Reddit. Truist Lifts Walmart (WMT) Price Target to $119 After Strong Q3 Performance On November 20‍, Truist Securities raised its price target on Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) to $119 fr‌om‍ $109 and rei⁠terated a Buy rating on the⁠ stock⁠, as reported by The Fly. In the third quarter of 2025, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) generated $179.5 billion in revenue, marking a 5.8% increase from the same period last y‍ear.​ Compara‌b ...

Consumer Resilience - The US consumer has shown remarkable resilience, maintaining a consumption trend of approximately 4% growth despite previous expectations of a downturn [2][4] - The holiday season outlook predicts about 4% growth compared to the previous year, with early signs of heavy discounts for Black Friday [4] Economic Bifurcation - A "K economy" is emerging, where high-end consumers are thriving, closely tied to stock market performance, while lower-end consumers are facing significant financial strain [3][4] - There is a noticeable bifurcation in consumer behavior, with value-focused retailers outperforming traditional department stores [5][7] Retail Performance - Companies that emphasize value and innovation, such as Walmart and off-price retailers like TJX and Ross, are performing well [5][6] - Target is struggling to deliver the same level of value as Walmart, despite efforts to improve [6] Market Trends - Off-price retailers are gaining market share from department stores, which are under pressure due to their high-low pricing models [7] - There is a convergence in shopping behavior, with higher-income consumers increasingly shopping at value-oriented retailers like Costco and Walmart [8][9] Membership Models - Costco and Walmart are successfully leveraging membership models to attract a diverse consumer base, offering significant value [9][10] - Both companies are innovating in fashion and apparel, capturing market share from competitors like Target [10][11] Consumer Segmentation - There is notable growth in the $100,000+ income segment at both Walmart and Costco, while lower-income consumers are also shopping at dollar stores and off-price retailers [12]

Retail earnings take center stage this week as several holdings in the Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X Shares (RETL) prepare to report results just days before the Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping weekend. Six companies from the ETF's roster will release quarterly results between Monday and Tuesday. The group includes Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL), Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY), Kohl's Corp. (KSS), Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS), Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN), and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF). These six ...

Core Insights - Kohl's has appointed Michael Bender as the permanent CEO after a successful tenure as interim CEO, focusing on regaining customer loyalty and improving sales performance [2][9] - The company is implementing a strategy that emphasizes private labels, jewelry, and petite sizes to attract long-time customers while also appealing to new audiences [2][9] Financial Performance - Kohl's reported second-quarter results that exceeded expectations and raised its outlook in August, indicating some success in its turnaround strategy [3] - Despite recent gains, Kohl's shares have lost 8% over the past year, although they are up 12% year-to-date and recently increased by 2% [5] Strategic Initiatives - The company is adjusting its merchandise to emphasize value, enhance the in-store experience, and avoid stockouts of popular items [6] - Bender highlighted the importance of expanding fashion and home goods lines, as well as broadening coupon applicability to attract more customers [6] Market Context - Kohl's is part of a broader retail trend where companies are cutting prices and accepting smaller profit margins to entice cautious consumers [4] - The focus on private labels and jewelry is aimed at improving the company's standing with women, which has been a key demographic for Kohl's [10]

Michael Bender has improved the retailer's financial results and corporate culture, the company said on Monday. ...

Group 1: Nvidia - Nvidia reported record revenue of $57 billion for Q3 fiscal 2026, marking a 22% increase from the previous quarter and a 62% year-over-year surge, driven by strong AI chip demand [2][4] - Data center revenue reached $51 billion, a 66% increase year-over-year, while gross margins slightly narrowed to 73.4% from 74.6% a year ago [4] - Despite exceeding expectations, Nvidia's shares fell approximately 4% post-report, reflecting broader tech sector concerns [2][5] Group 2: Walmart - Walmart's revenue hit $179.5 billion, a 6% year-over-year increase, with e-commerce sales soaring 27% [3][6] - U.S. comparable sales growth eased to 4.5% from 5.3% last year, but every segment saw over 20% gains, particularly in advertising, which surged 53% following the Vizio acquisition [6] - Walmart's stock rallied over 4% after the earnings report, indicating positive investor sentiment [3][6] Group 3: Market Context - The contrasting market reactions to Nvidia and Walmart's earnings reports illustrate that strong financial results do not always guarantee positive stock performance, as market sentiment plays a crucial role [3]