Core Viewpoint - Dividend investing is highlighted as a strategy for generating passive income, with a focus on attractive yields in the consumer goods sector, specifically featuring Home Depot, JD.com, and Target as strong investment options. Group 1: Home Depot - Home Depot is recognized as a leader in dividend growth, with comparable-store sales increasing by 1.4% and revenue rising by 4.9% to $45.3 billion in the second quarter [3][4] - The company anticipates full-year revenue growth of about 5%, benefiting from potential interest rate cuts and a cooling labor market [4] - Home Depot is positioned to capitalize on a national housing shortage estimated at 4 million homes, offering a dividend yield of 2.3% [5] Group 2: JD.com - JD.com, China's second-largest e-commerce company, has seen its shares decline by 71% from previous highs, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.21% [6][8] - The company employs a direct-sales model, investing in its own inventory and utilizing a robust warehouse network for efficient delivery [7] - JD.com reported a 22% year-over-year revenue increase in the second quarter, with active customers growing by 40%, and is focused on improving supply chain efficiency through AI investments [8][10] Group 3: Target - Target's revenue fell by less than 1% year-over-year, with comparable-store sales down 1.9%, and earnings per share at $2.05, slightly beating expectations [11] - The announcement of a new CEO, Michael Fiddelke, has raised concerns about the company's direction, as the market anticipated an outsider for a fresh perspective [12][13] - Target has a strong dividend history, being a Dividend King with 54 consecutive years of annual increases, currently offering a high dividend yield of 4.5% [15]

Investment Rating - The report assigns a Neutral rating to Kingfisher with a price target (PT) of 305p [1][3][33] Core Insights - Kingfisher experienced a positive start to the year, particularly in the UK and France, with 1Q26 like-for-like (LFL) sales increasing by 1.8%, and 2.7% when excluding a negative calendar impact [2][3] - The UK & Ireland reported a strong LFL sales growth of 5.9%, driven by B&Q's 7.9% and Screwfix's 2.9% growth, while France and Poland faced declines of 3.2% [2][3] - The report highlights that some of the growth in the UK during 1Q may have been pulled forward from 2Q, and management remains cautious with unchanged earnings guidance [1][3] Financial Performance - The adjusted pre-tax profit (PBT) guidance for FY26 is set between £480 million and £540 million, with an updated FY26E PBT forecast of £524 million [3][5] - Online sales grew by 9.3% year-on-year, contributing 20% to group sales, and trade penetration, including Screwfix, increased to 29% from 26% in 1Q25 [2][3] - The report projects total revenue for FY26E at £12,661.7 million, with a slight decline from the previous year, but anticipates a growth of 3.0% in FY27E [5][16] Regional Performance - In the UK, sales are expected to grow from £6,456 million in FY25 to £6,689.9 million in FY26E, reflecting a growth rate of 3.6% [29] - France's sales are projected to decline from £3,883 million in FY25 to £3,746.3 million in FY26E, indicating a challenging market environment [31] - The Polish market is experiencing a decline, with LFL sales down by 3.2%, reflecting geopolitical impacts on the DIY market [1][2] Valuation Metrics - The report indicates a DCF-derived price target of 305p, equating to approximately 12x FY27E P/E [33][34] - Key financial ratios include a projected P/E of 13.7 for FY26E and a free cash flow yield of 8.5% [5][11] - The report notes a dividend yield of 4.2% for FY26E, with a consistent dividend payout ratio [5][11]

Core Insights - Walgreens is increasing its investment in robotics with a new micro-fulfillment center in Minnesota, which will support nearly 200 locations and process approximately 13 million prescriptions annually [1][4] - The micro-fulfillment centers allow pharmacists to focus more on patient care rather than prescription filling, enhancing community health and patient experience [2][5] - The company operates a network of 12 micro-fulfillment centers that fulfill over 3.5 million prescriptions weekly, supporting more than 5,000 stores nationwide [3][4] Operational Efficiency - The micro-fulfillment centers have resulted in a 24% year-over-year increase in shipped volumes, with around 16 million prescriptions filled monthly [4][5] - In October 2023, these centers supported 4,300 locations, increasing to 4,800 by February 2024, handling 40% of the prescription volume at supported pharmacies [4][5] Industry Context - Other major retailers like Walmart and Amazon are also investing in robotics for fulfillment, with Amazon introducing a robot capable of sensing touch and Walmart utilizing robotic 3D printing technology for warehouse construction [6][7]