When one of the biggest stars in music names one of her songs after your company, you know it's going to be a game changer. [singing] [music] >> I got chills because you know in that moment you're just reminded um what what an incredible company and brand we are that Beyonce would name a song after us. It far exceeded our expectations.6 months later, Levis's announced a global marketing campaign with Beyonce, and the rest will go down in retail history. The TV ads broke records, billions of impressions, and ...

Core Insights - DELIVER Middle East is set to debut in Dubai on January 21-22, 2026, focusing on retail, commerce, and supply chain leaders, supported by DP World as the Headline Sponsor and Launch Partner [1] - The event aims to fill a critical gap in the Middle East's logistics and commerce landscape, bringing together over 200 senior retail executives from prominent brands [2][3] - The matchmaking model will facilitate one-to-one meetings between retailers and solution providers, enhancing efficiency and relevance in interactions [4] Event Structure - The launch agenda will feature influential leaders discussing the transformation of retail and supply chain in the region, including topics like digital acceleration in luxury and practical supply chain roadmaps for net-zero ambitions [5][6] - Day Two will include senior-level roundtables addressing leadership themes such as last-mile transformation and automation in the workforce [8] Networking Opportunities - An exclusive invitation-only day on January 20 will precede the main event, featuring the DELIVER Elite Dinner for high-impact conversations among industry leaders [9] - Attendees will have the opportunity to tour DP World’s Jebel Ali Port, showcasing advanced logistics ecosystems and sustainable innovations [10] Awards and Community Engagement - The event will conclude with the DELIVER Vendor Awards, recognizing innovative supply chain and logistics partners, voted on by attending retailers [11] - The second day will feature a Women in Retail Breakfast, fostering connections among women leaders in the retail and logistics sectors [12]

Core Insights - Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF Shares (NASDAQ:VOO) leads the ETF market with $1.5 trillion in assets and a low expense ratio of 0.03%, but ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NYSEARCA:NOBL) offers superior cash flow with a yield of 2.1% compared to VOO's 1.09% [2][4] Group 1: NOBL's Income Generation - NOBL generates income solely from dividends of 68 blue-chip Dividend Aristocrats, which have a history of increasing dividends for over 25 years [3][4] - The ETF employs an equal-weighting methodology, with sector allocations of 22.5% in Industrials and 20.9% in Consumer Staples, minimizing concentration risk while maximizing exposure to reliable dividend payers [3][4] Group 2: Dividend Safety Analysis - Albemarle Corporation, with a 2.06% weighting, faces risks due to negative earnings of -$1.59 per share but maintains a $1.62 annual dividend [5] - Caterpillar, holding a 1.68% weighting, shows strong performance with a 46.3% return on equity and a 14.3% profit margin, supported by a $5.84 annual dividend and $19.49 in earnings [5] - Johnson & Johnson, with a 1.51% weighting, offers a 2.37% yield and has a 74% payout ratio, backed by a 27.3% profit margin and over 60 years of consecutive dividend increases [5] - Walmart and Procter & Gamble, with weightings of 1.56% and 1.33% respectively, maintain conservative payout ratios of 32% and 60%, generating significant free cash flow to support dividend growth [5]

Sales Performance - CarMax's used car sales fell short of expectations last quarter [1] Company Challenges - Interim management faces increased pressure to revitalize the struggling used-car retailer [1]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are slightly higher after a decline on Wednesday, driven by concerns over a "hiring recession" following the November jobs report [1] - The November Consumer Price Index is anticipated as a crucial inflation indicator that could influence market trends for the remaining trading days of the year [1] Treasury Bonds and Market Projections - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.13%, while the two-year bond was at 3.46% [2] - The CME Group's FedWatch tool indicates a 73.4% probability that the Federal Reserve will maintain current interest rates [2] Stock Performance - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) increased by 0.23% to $672.95, and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) rose by 0.55% to $603.70 in premarket trading [2] - Accenture PLC shares decreased by 0.27% ahead of its fiscal first-quarter results, with expected earnings of $3.75 per share on revenue of $18.52 billion [6] - Micron Technology Inc. shares rose by 9.61% following a better-than-expected first-quarter performance and a strong outlook for the second quarter [6] - FedEx Corp. shares fell by 0.07% pre-market, with analysts expecting earnings of $4.10 per share on revenue of $22.79 billion [6] - Nike Inc. shares increased by 0.44% ahead of its fiscal second-quarter results, with expected earnings of $0.38 per share on revenue of $12.22 billion [13] Sector Performance - On Wednesday, Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors performed well, while Energy, Health Care, Real Estate, and Financials sectors saw declines [8] Economic Data and Market Sentiment - Initial jobless claims and the November consumer price index report are set to be released, which will provide insights into price pressures and regional factory activity [14] - Asian markets closed mixed, with some indices in the green, while most European markets opened higher [15]

Market Overview - US stock futures rose as investors anticipated a recovery from recent tech sell-offs, with S&P 500 futures up 0.4% and Nasdaq 100 futures gaining approximately 0.8% [1] - Dow Jones Industrial Average futures increased by 0.1% [1] Tech Sector Developments - Oracle's stock fell after losing key support for a $10 billion data center project, impacting other major tech stocks like Nvidia and Broadcom [2] - Micron Technology's earnings report indicated strong AI demand, forecasting next quarter's adjusted profit to be nearly double analysts' expectations, leading to a surge in its stock during premarket trading [2][11] Inflation and Economic Indicators - Markets are awaiting the consumer price index report for November, which may be less reliable due to the US government shutdown affecting data collection [3] - The Federal Reserve is focusing more on labor market conditions than inflation pressures, with indications from Fed governor Chris Waller supporting potential rate cuts [4] Corporate News - Trump Media & Technology Group announced a merger with TAE Technologies in a $6 billion all-stock deal, creating the world's first publicly traded fusion company [5] - Maplebear's stock fell 6% following DoorDash's partnership with OpenAI for a grocery-shopping app, while Coinbase's stock rose 2% as it plans to introduce stock trading and prediction markets [6][7] - Birkenstock's stock dropped 7% despite better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, as its outlook for fiscal 2026 did not meet analysts' expectations [8] - Lululemon shares rose after reports of activist investor Elliott building a stake of over $1 billion in the company [9] Broader Market Concerns - US stocks face numerous potential risks in 2026, including AI expectations, valuation issues, inflation and interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and macroeconomic slowdowns [10]

Core Viewpoint - RH (NYSE:RH) is characterized as a "wild trader" by Jim Cramer, highlighting its volatile trading behavior following earnings reports, with a notable 14% spike before settling at a 6% increase [1][2]. Company Performance - After-hours trading saw RH's stock initially decline, followed by a significant recovery, ultimately closing up 6%, which is considered a strong performance compared to other companies that reported poor results [1]. - Analysts at Stifel downgraded RH, citing concerns over a fundamental mismatch between the company's current valuation and its long-term prospects [1]. Industry Context - RH operates as a retailer and lifestyle brand, offering a range of products including furniture, lighting, textiles, bathware, decor, and children's furnishings [2]. - There is a belief that certain AI stocks may present greater upside potential with less downside risk compared to RH, indicating a competitive landscape in investment opportunities [3].

Core Viewpoint - Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLLI) is identified as a preferred stock by RBC for 2026, benefiting from favorable economic conditions and industry trends [1][2]. Company Expansion and Performance - RBC anticipates Ollie's to open approximately 75 new stores by 2026 and improve gross margins through enhanced supply chain management [2]. - Citi has adjusted its price target for Ollie's to $141 from $150 while maintaining a 'Buy' rating, whereas Craig-Hallum raised its target to $157 from $156, also keeping a 'Buy' rating [3]. Analyst Ratings and Market Sentiment - As of December 12, 63% of analysts have a 'Buy' or equivalent rating for Ollie's, with a median price target of $141, indicating a potential upside of 23.78% [4].

Core Insights - The logistics sector has seen significant engagement from investors, particularly in the ASEAN and US markets, highlighting its growth potential and diversification opportunities [1] Investment Focus - The company has diversified its investments across various sectors including banking, telecommunications, logistics, and hotels, indicating a strategic approach to portfolio management [1] - The entry into the US market in 2020 reflects a growing interest in international investments, particularly in sectors like banks, hotels, and logistics [1] Market Trends - The popularity of insurance companies in the Philippines since 2014 suggests a shift in investment preferences among local investors, moving towards more diversified financial products [1] - The trend of using platforms like Seeking Alpha for analysis indicates a growing reliance on data-driven insights for investment decisions in both the ASEAN and US markets [1]

Market Performance - Stock markets experienced a decline for the third consecutive day, with the benchmark Sensex closing lower by 120.21 points or 0.14% at 84,559.65, marking a week's low [2][3] - The NSE Nifty also fell by 41.55 points or 0.16% to a week's low of 25,818.55 [4] Major Contributors - Among the Sensex firms, major laggards included Trent, HDFC Bank, Adani Ports, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Bharat Electronics, Titan, and Asian Paints [4] - Conversely, State Bank of India, Infosys, Axis Bank, and Maruti were among the gainers [4] Foreign and Domestic Investment - Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 2,381.92 crore, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased stocks worth Rs 1,077.48 crore [5] Global Market Context - In Asian markets, indices such as South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225, Shanghai's SSE Composite, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended positively [5] - Brent crude oil prices increased by 2.12% to $60.17 per barrel [5]