Core Viewpoint - Marks & Spencer Group (OTC:MAKSY) is a prominent British retailer known for its quality products, facing competition from major retailers like Tesco and Sainsbury's [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Position - As of January 13, 2026, Citigroup maintained a "Buy" rating for MAKSY, adjusting its price target from 450 GBp to 435 GBp, indicating cautious optimism about the stock's future performance [2][6] - Currently, MAKSY is priced at $9.32, reflecting a slight increase of 0.42% or $0.039, with a market capitalization of approximately $9.48 billion and a trading volume of 2,000 shares on the OTC exchange [4][6] - Over the past year, MAKSY's stock price has fluctuated between $7.99 and $11.51, suggesting volatility in its market performance [4] Group 2: Investment Analysis - Zacks Investment Research is evaluating MAKSY for value investors, utilizing the Zacks Rank system to identify potentially undervalued stocks based on earnings estimates and revisions [3][5][6] - Marks & Spencer's stock is assessed using Zacks' Style Scores system, which categorizes stocks to help investors find those that align with their investment strategies, particularly for undervalued opportunities [5]

Core Insights - The article discusses how artificial intelligence and selective consumer trends are influencing the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) landscape in 2026, with varying impacts across different sectors. Group 1: Technology and Consumer Focus - Amazon.com is highlighted as a strong performer in the tech and consumer sectors, showing resilience despite market skepticism regarding capital expenditures [2][3] - The company has demonstrated robust results in retail, advertising, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), making it a significant holding in various tech-focused ETFs [3] - The market has undervalued the potential of AI, creating opportunities for companies effectively integrating AI into their operations, such as ServiceNow, Intuit, and Salesforce [4][5] Group 2: Consumer Spending Trends - U.S. consumer spending is characterized by a divide, with higher-income groups performing well while lower-income cohorts face challenges due to persistent inflation [6] - Value-oriented retailers like Walmart and Costco are gaining traction in retail-focused ETFs, while consumer staples ETFs provide exposure to more defensive segments [7] - Credit usage among consumers is increasing as they rely on credit to manage higher prices, indicating a selective spending pattern [8]

Core Insights - The K-shaped economy is becoming evident in consumer spending patterns, with a clear divide between higher- and lower-income consumers as the economy heads into 2026 [1][2] Consumer Spending Trends - Higher-income consumers are performing well, with strong spending on real assets and homes, while lower-income cohorts are struggling due to persistent inflation [2] - Retail sales in the U.S. appear resilient, but the strength is narrow, with consumers being selective and prioritizing brand loyalty and perceived value in discretionary purchases [2] ETF Performance and Strategy - Value-oriented retailers are benefiting from this selectivity, with ETFs focused on companies like Walmart, Costco, and off-price chains showing strong performance driven by a few value leaders [3] - Consumer staples ETFs are gaining traction as lower-income households reduce spending, indicating a shift towards defensive market segments [4] Consumer Sentiment - Consumer confidence remains low despite equity markets nearing record highs, creating a disconnect that is unusual in the current economic climate [5] Investment Strategies - ETF investors are advised to adopt active strategies that focus on companies catering to value-conscious shoppers and benefiting from productivity gains through AI, while avoiding broad exposure to vulnerable segments [6] - Employment security is a critical factor influencing consumer spending behavior, with job security leading to increased spending and insecurity prompting more selective purchasing [7]

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market opened on January 13th, 2026, with major indexes showing mixed to slightly lower performance as investors reacted to inflation data and the start of the fourth-quarter earnings season [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down approximately 0.5% at the open, while the S&P 500 (SPX) saw a modest decline of around 0.1% [2] - The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) was trading near flat, indicating stability in tech stocks despite broader market hesitancy [2] Economic Data - The December Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed a year-over-year increase of 2.7%, consistent with November's figure, while "core" prices rose 2.6%, below the consensus projection of 2.8% [4] - Investors are also monitoring new home sales figures, the NFIB small business optimism index, and updates on the U.S. budget deficit [5] Earnings Season - The fourth-quarter earnings season began with major U.S. banks reporting mixed results; JPMorgan Chase (JPM) reported adjusted profits that beat expectations but had slightly lower revenue [6] - Bank of New York Mellon (BK) reported a rise in profit and record revenue for 2025, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) disappointed with its fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter profit and guidance, leading to a nearly 6% drop in shares [6] Corporate Developments - Apple (AAPL) is reportedly integrating Google's (GOOGL) Gemini AI into its Siri voice assistant, which could impact both companies and the AI landscape [11] - SK Hynix announced plans to build a $13 billion chip packaging plant in South Korea, indicating rising demand for AI chips [11] - U.S. Bancorp (USB) is acquiring BTIG for up to $1 billion in cash and stock [11] - Walmart (WMT) shares increased by 3.0% following its inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index and the introduction of new AI features [11]

Upgrades - Wells Fargo upgraded Colgate-Palmolive (CL) to Equal Weight from Underweight with a price target of $86, up from $77, citing a more balanced risk/reward at current share levels [2] - Compass Point upgraded MasterCard (MA) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $735, up from $620, favoring networks over other payment companies heading into 2026 [2] - Goldman Sachs upgraded HP Enterprise (HPE) to Buy from Neutral with a $31 price target, highlighting the merger with Juniper as a factor that strengthens its position in the enterprise/campus networking market [3] - KeyBanc upgraded Intel (INTC) to Overweight from Sector Weight with a $60 price target, expecting significant data center demand from hyperscalers to boost Intel's data center and AI revenue [4] - KeyBanc also upgraded AMD (AMD) to Overweight from Sector Weight with a $270 price target, anticipating AI revenues of $14B-$15B this year supported by MI355 demand and MI455 supply [4] Downgrades - Daiwa downgraded PayPal (PYPL) to Neutral from Outperform with a $61 price target, believing the stock's valuation will remain depressed until growth in total payment volume improves [5] - Oppenheimer downgraded Adobe (ADBE) to Perform from Outperform, citing a challenging operating environment during the AI technology transition and concerns about top-line growth and product execution [5] - Jefferies downgraded Five Below (FIVE) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $210, down from $215, noting that the company's valuation is well above its three-year average [5] - Goldman Sachs downgraded HP Inc. (HPQ) to Sell from Hold with a $21 price target, suggesting that consensus expectations for Personal Systems growth in FY26 may be too high [5] - BofA downgraded Arm (ARM) to Neutral from Buy with a $120 price target, citing a revenue slowdown in royalties and licensing as well as increasing reliance on SoftBank into calendar year 2026 [5]

Central Banks and Federal Reserve - A group of central banks expressed support for Fed Chair Jerome Powell, emphasizing the importance of central bank independence for economic stability [1] Trade and Tariffs - President Trump announced a 25% tariff on trade with any country doing business with Iran, impacting U.S. trade relations [2] Interest Rates and Economic Outlook - New York Fed President John Williams stated that interest rates are well-positioned to stabilize the labor market and achieve the Fed's 2% inflation target, highlighting the benefits of the Fed's independence [3] - Market expectations indicate a 95% chance of no rate change and a 5% chance of a 25 basis point rate cut at the January FOMC meeting [2] Stock Market Performance - Wall Street's main stock indexes closed higher, with the S&P 500 reaching a new record high, driven by gains in data storage companies like Western Digital and Seagate Technology [4] - Walmart's stock rose 3% after being announced as a new addition to the Nasdaq 100 Index [4] - Credit card companies and bank stocks declined following Trump's proposal for a cap on credit card interest rates [4] Earnings Reports and Market Reactions - JPMorgan Chase reported better-than-expected Q4 results, leading to a 0.5% rise in its stock during pre-market trading [16] - Intel and Advanced Micro Devices saw stock increases after being upgraded by KeyBanc [17] Inflation Data and Economic Indicators - The U.S. consumer inflation report is anticipated to show a December CPI of 2.7% year-over-year, unchanged from November, with core CPI expected to rise slightly to 2.7% [6] - New Home Sales data for October is expected to show sales of 716K, incorporating previously delayed September figures [8] International Market Trends - Asian stock markets showed mixed results, with Japan's Nikkei 225 Index closing sharply higher amid speculation of a snap election [11][13] - China's Shanghai Composite Index retreated from a 10-year high, with significant turnover indicating potential market overheating [12]

Group 1: TSMC and AI Demand - TSMC is rapidly expanding its chip-on-wafer-on-substrate capacity to meet the high demand from Nvidia and other competitors, resulting in a significant backlog for AI-accelerated data centers, which is expected to drive sustained double-digit sales growth for TSMC [1] - TSMC reached a $1 trillion market cap in July 2024, largely due to the increasing demand for graphics processing units (GPUs) linked to artificial intelligence [2] - The AI-driven market for software and systems is projected to be worth $15.7 trillion by 2030, benefiting companies like TSMC that are integral to AI hardware and software applications [3] Group 2: Broadcom's Growth and AI Solutions - Broadcom also surpassed the $1 trillion market cap in December 2024, driven by its AI-networking solutions that connect numerous GPUs to enhance their computational capabilities [6][7] - The company is recognized for developing specialty AI chips aimed at hyperscale clients, which is anticipated to significantly boost Broadcom's AI-related sales [8] Group 3: Walmart's Path to Trillion-Dollar Status - Walmart is identified as a strong candidate to become the next trillion-dollar stock, leveraging its extensive history of stock splits and its significant market presence [10][11] - The company's size allows it to purchase products in bulk, enabling competitive pricing against local and national retailers, which enhances its value proposition [12] - Walmart's strategy includes utilizing AI for supply chain management and improving operational efficiency, which is expected to contribute to its growth [15] - The Walmart+ subscription service has driven a 27% increase in global e-commerce sales, positioning it as a key profit driver moving forward [16] - With a current market cap of $913 billion, Walmart requires only a 10% increase to join the trillion-dollar club, supported by various growth catalysts [17]

Group 1: Market Performance - Walmart shares increased by 3%, contributing to gains in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, where it recently moved its stock listing from the NYSE [1] - Consumer staples rose by 1.4%, leading sector gainers, while the technology sector also saw an increase [1] - The S&P 500 and Dow reached record closing highs, driven by gains in technology companies and Walmart [9] Group 2: Walmart's Index Inclusion - Walmart is set to join the Nasdaq-100 index on January 20, which could attract billions of dollars from passive index funds [1] - The shift to the Nasdaq is expected to enhance Walmart's visibility and investment appeal [1] Group 3: Financial Sector Performance - Financial stocks declined by 0.8%, leading sector decliners in the S&P 500, with Citigroup down 3% and American Express down 4.3% [10] - Trump proposed a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%, impacting lender and credit card firm shares [10] Group 4: Earnings Outlook - Analysts anticipate a 26.5% year-over-year earnings growth for the technology sector in the upcoming fourth-quarter earnings season [10] - Overall S&P 500 companies' earnings are expected to rise by 8.8% compared to the previous year [10] Group 5: Market Activity - U.S. exchange volume reached 17.29 billion shares, above the 20-day average of 16.40 billion [8] - Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a ratio of 1.68-to-1 on the NYSE, with 725 new highs and 48 new lows [8]

Market Overview - Dow Jones futures, S&P 500 futures, and Nasdaq 100 futures traded slightly lower ahead of Tuesday's open after a rise in the stock market on Monday [3] - Key movers during Monday's session included Broadcom, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, Tesla, and Walmart [3] Company Highlights - Broadcom shares rallied by 2.1% on Monday, contributing to its strong performance [3] - Nvidia is partnering with biotech firms for AI drug discovery, indicating a strategic move into the healthcare sector [6] - Walmart is expanding its drone delivery services in partnership with an Alphabet unit, showcasing innovation in logistics [6] Stock Performance - The best-performing stock in the Dow Jones over the past year has increased by 77%, attributed to the ongoing AI boom [4] - The stock market closed at highs, with Alphabet reaching a market capitalization of $4 trillion [6]

Core Insights - Walmart Inc (NASDAQ:WMT) triggered a significant Power Inflow alert, indicating bullish sentiment among traders based on order flow analytics [3][4] - The alert was issued at a price of $116.65, with the stock price experiencing a rise to a post-alert high of $118.84 by 2:45 PM EST, reflecting increased buying interest from both retail and institutional investors [4][5] Power Inflow Signal - The Power Inflow alert is a proprietary signal from TradePulse, highlighting significant shifts in order flow that suggest a strong trend toward buying activity [6] - This alert is typically issued within the first two hours of trading and indicates a higher probability of bullish price movement for the remainder of the trading day, serving as a strategic entry point for active traders [6] Order Flow Analytics - Order flow analytics assess real-time buying and selling behaviors by analyzing volume, timing, and order size among retail and institutional participants [7] - These insights enhance understanding of price action and market sentiment, enabling more informed trading decisions [7] WMT Performance - Following the Power Inflow alert, WMT's stock price rose to an intraday high of $118.84, representing a gain of 1.88% from the alert price [8] - The alert exemplifies how real-time order flow analytics can reveal bullish momentum, particularly when price action appears stagnant or declining, allowing traders to capture immediate gains [8]