This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback Walmart and Target — two of the most prominent retailers in the U.S. — have new CEOs as of Sunday. Target’s former COO Michael Fiddelke has officially taken over the top spot from longtime CEO Brian Cornell, all while the Minnesota-based retailer has faced pressure to speak about U.S. government immigration activities in the state.“Stepping into this role is both humbling and deeply personal,” Fiddelke said in a company message Monday. “ ...

No large retailer in America has posted worse results over the past five years than Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT). And the board has shown another example of the poor judgment that hurt it. Michael Fiddelke, Target’s chief operating officer, was promoted to chief executive, after working for his boss Brian Cornell. 24/7 Wall St. Key Points The Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) board of directors showed poor judgment in its choice for new chief executive. The chief operating officer was part of the team that broke ...

Incoming Walmart chief executive John Furner started at the mega retailer as an hourly employee stocking shelves. Now, the largest U.S. company by revenue is counting on him to guide it through its next chapter. CEO Doug McMillon announced his retirement in November after a decade as leader of the No. 1 company on the Fortune 500. His last day was Jan. 31. Taking his place is Furner, who starts his CEO tenure Sunday after previously serving as the president and CEO of Walmart’s U.S. operation. Furner, ...

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. is increasing its investment in health care by enhancing pay and career opportunities for pharmacy associates, reflecting a growing focus on Health & Wellness services [1] Pay and Compensation - The new pharmacy operations team lead roles will pay an average of $28 per hour, with potential earnings reaching up to $42 per hour based on location and bonuses [2] - Pharmacy technicians currently earn an average of $22 per hour, with the updated structure allowing them to earn up to $40.50 per hour depending on location and certification levels [4] Operational Changes - The new team lead positions are intended to support daily pharmacy operations and assist pharmacy managers and pharmacists, allowing licensed professionals to focus more on patient care [3] Role of Pharmacy Teams - Pharmacy teams are crucial for health care access for many Americans, assisting customers with medication questions, immunizations, and long-term health management across nearly 4,600 locations [5] Career Development - The initiative aims to create long-term career pathways, particularly for pharmacy technicians, with the new team lead role providing a clear route into leadership [7] - Opportunities for advancement are accessible without a college degree, and Walmart covers the certification costs for pharmacy technicians [8]

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. is recognized as one of the 12 Best Stocks to Buy for the Long Term [1] - Tigress Financial has raised Walmart's price target to $135 from $130, citing the company's increased use of AI and automation to enhance customer experience and revenue growth [2] Group 1: Technology and Operations - Walmart is enhancing its digital and pharmacy-based healthcare services by promoting approximately 3,000 pharmacy technicians to operations team lead positions, increasing their average hourly pay from $22 to $28 [3] - The new team leads will manage daily pharmacy operations and support pharmacy managers, with total pay potential reaching $42 an hour, excluding bonuses [4] - Walmart's technology-driven approach includes a vast network of retail and wholesale stores, e-commerce platforms, and mobile apps, contributing to a significant increase in online sales [5] Group 2: Financial Performance - Walmart raised its full-year outlook for the second time in November, driven by strong quarterly performance and a notable increase in online sales [5]

Core Insights - Walmart has appointed John Furner as the new CEO, indicating a strategic focus on expanding its digital presence [1][2] - Furner, who has a strong background in technology and eCommerce, will replace Doug McMillon, who is retiring [2][5] - Walmart's shares have increased by 20% year over year, and the company is nearing a market valuation of $1 trillion [3] Leadership Changes - Furner will take over as CEO on February 1, with David Guggina succeeding him as CEO of Walmart US, marking a shift towards eCommerce leadership [2][4] - Guggina's experience in eCommerce and supply chain operations is expected to support Walmart's goal of becoming America's preferred shopping destination [5] - Dan Bartlett highlighted Furner's curiosity and forward-thinking approach, which encourages teams to look beyond daily operations [5][6] Market Context - The appointment comes at a time when the retail sector is facing significant disruption due to advancements in AI technology [3] - Furner's challenge will be to sustain Walmart's growth trajectory amidst these changes in the retail landscape [3]

Core Insights - Walmart is significantly enhancing its Health & Wellness sector by investing in pharmacy associates, indicating a strategic focus on healthcare services [1] Group 1: Investment in Pharmacy Associates - Walmart has elevated 3,000 roles to pharmacy operations team lead positions, with an average pay of $28 per hour and potential earnings up to $42 per hour [1] - Pharmacy technicians will see their average pay increase to $22 per hour, with new pay ranges allowing them to earn up to $40.50 per hour [1] - No college degree is required for roles such as pharmacy sales associate, technician, or operations team lead, and Walmart covers the costs for associates to become certified pharmacy technicians [1]

Another major challenge that may arise from AI-led journeys is how it could affect consumer trust, especially when third-party agents make mistakes.“For ChatGPT in particular, OpenAI needs revenue sources,” Baird said. “I would be extremely wary as a retailer that they're going to turn that around and charge me for it. That's coming.”The third-party platforms may then charge companies for what they learned from customer journeys made using their AI, according to Baird. The relationship would be similar to h ...

Core Viewpoint - Costco Wholesale has demonstrated significant growth, with shares increasing over 170% in the past five years, outperforming the S&P 500's 80% gains during the same period [1] Dividend Analysis - Costco's current dividend yield stands at 0.5%, which may not attract investors initially, but the company has a history of increasing dividends and paying special dividends, suggesting it could be an underrated income stock [2] - The dividend yield is lower due to the substantial rise in stock price; as the stock value increases, the yield decreases even if the dividend payment remains the same [2] - The quarterly dividend has doubled from $0.65 at the start of 2020 to $1.30, reflecting a compounded annual growth rate of 12.2% [3] - Costco has issued special dividends twice, paying $10 per share in 2020 and $15 per share in 2023, indicating a strong performance and willingness to reward shareholders [4] Investment Perspective - While Costco's dividend should not be the primary reason for investment, it is a valuable aspect that may be overlooked due to its low yield [6] - The stock is currently valued at over 50 times earnings, which may be challenging for some investors, but it could still be a good long-term investment due to growth potential and dividend benefits [7] - For long-term investors, Costco represents a solid stock to hold, benefiting from both growth and dividend payments over time [8]

Core Viewpoint - Costco is considered a solid investment in the retail sector, with a strong business model supported by membership fees and consistent growth in sales and stock performance [1][5]. Company Performance - Costco's stock has averaged annual gains of 23% over the past five years and 20% over the past 15 years [5]. - In the last reported quarter, Costco's sales grew by 8%, with e-commerce revenue increasing by over 20% [5]. - The company has a recent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 47, which is above its five-year average of 41, indicating that the stock may be overvalued at present [2]. Membership and Revenue - Costco generates more than $5 billion annually from membership fees, which significantly supports its business model [5]. - The company offers "executive" memberships with additional perks to encourage upgrades among its members [5]. Growth Potential - As of January, Costco operates 923 locations globally, with 633 in the U.S., indicating substantial room for growth [5]. - The company is well-regarded for treating its stakeholders favorably, providing above-average pay and benefits to workers, modest markups for shoppers, and substantial returns to shareholders, including special dividends [5].