Good morning. The “traditional” large‑bank CFO path runs through corporate finance, controllership, and treasury with deep technical accounting credentials. But Citi’s newly appointed CFO, Gonzalo Luchetti, did not take that route. He instead brings what companies now increasingly want in a CFO: an enterprise operator and strategic partner.Next month, after Citi files its 2025 year-end results, Luchetti will succeed longtime CFO Mark Mason, who will become executive vice chair and senior executive advisor t ...

Core Insights - Victoria's Secret reported a net sales increase of 9% to $1.47 billion for Q3 FY25, surpassing previous guidance of $1.39 billion to $1.42 billion [1] - The growth is attributed to strong performance across its Victoria's Secret, PINK, and Beauty segments, as well as effective sales strategies [1][2] Financial Performance - Gross profit rose to $536.14 million in Q3 FY25, up from $468.29 million in the same quarter last year [3] - Operating loss decreased to $19 million from $47 million year-over-year, while net loss narrowed to $37.35 million, translating to a loss per diluted share of $0.46 compared to $0.71 in Q3 FY24 [3] - Adjusted gross margin increased by 170 basis points due to reduced promotional activities and a higher proportion of regular-priced sales [4] Future Outlook - For the full year 2025, net sales are projected between $6.45 billion and $6.48 billion, an increase from previous guidance of $6.33 billion to $6.41 billion [5] - Adjusted operating income for the full year is expected to range from $350 million to $375 million, up from prior guidance of $270 million to $320 million [5] - Q4 FY25 projected net sales are between $2.17 billion and $2.20 billion, with adjusted operating income expected between $265 million and $290 million [6] Strategic Focus - The company emphasizes cost management while prioritizing investments in product innovation, brand strength, and customer experience to support growth [7]

Company News and Stock Highlights - Netflix (NFLX) shares fell 2.1% after announcing a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) valued at approximately $82.7 billion, with Netflix paying $72 billion in cash and stock for various assets [6] - Ulta Beauty (ULTA) stock jumped 11% after reporting $2.86 billion in sales and $5.14 in earnings per share for the third quarter, both exceeding analyst expectations, and raised its full-year revenue forecast [6] - Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) shares tumbled 3.9% after reporting weaker revenue than expected, despite profit exceeding forecasts, and provided below-consensus revenue and EPS forecasts for Q1 fiscal 2026 [9] - Victoria's Secret & Co. (VSCO) stock surged nearly 14.4% after reporting a smaller-than-expected loss and raising its full-year sales forecast [9] - Salesforce (CRM) shares increased by 4% after delivering better-than-expected profit, although revenue fell short, with CEO highlighting the company's position in the AI era [9] - Dollar General (DG) rallied 12.6% after reporting stronger-than-expected profit for its latest quarter [9] - Hormel Foods (HRL) rose 3.3% after also reporting better-than-expected profit [9] Market Performance - Major U.S. stock indexes are trading higher, with the S&P 500 index up around 0.3% and just 0.2% shy of its record high, marking its eighth gain in the past nine sessions [2] - The Nasdaq Composite (COMP) rose approximately 0.4%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) saw a modest increase of about 0.1% [2] - The Russell 2000 index (RUT) of small-cap stocks edged back 0.2% from its record set yesterday [2] Sector Performance - The Industrials Select Sector SPDR (XLI), Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK), and Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC) recorded gains of 0.5%, 0.4%, and 0.4% respectively [3] - The Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) experienced a slight decline of 0.7% [3] - The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) decreased by 1.9% to 15.78, indicating reduced market anxiety [3] Upcoming Market Events - The U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for September is expected to show a 2.8% increase over the past 12 months, with core inflation at 2.9% [4] - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on December 9-10 is anticipated to result in a 25 basis point rate cut, with an 89.2% chance assigned to this outcome [5] - Other important economic data releases next week include ADP employment change, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), Producer Price Index (PPI), and initial jobless claims [5]

Core Insights - Victoria's Secret stock surged 17% after beating earnings expectations, reporting a loss of $0.27 per share against an anticipated loss of $0.59, with sales nearing $1.5 billion [1][2] Financial Performance - In Q3, Victoria's Secret achieved a 9% year-over-year sales growth, with same-store sales increasing by 8% [2] - Despite the sales growth, the company reported a net loss of $0.46 per share, which was an improvement from the $0.71 loss in the same quarter last year [3] - Full-year sales guidance has been raised to above $6.45 billion, with adjusted earnings expected to be between $2.40 and $2.65 per share, excluding tariff costs [4] Market Valuation - The current market capitalization of Victoria's Secret is $3 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of approximately 38 when accounting for $90 million in tariff costs [4][5] - Even without tariffs, the stock would still have a price-to-earnings ratio of 20, with a growth rate of only 9%, indicating that the stock may be overvalued [5]

Rubric - Rubric reported a surprise profit with adjusted EPS of 10 cents per share, significantly better than the expected loss of 17 cents per share [2] - Revenue for Rubric topped $350 million, exceeding expectations, driven by a 52% growth in subscription revenue, indicating strong customer retention [2][3] - The company achieved positive operating income for the first time, with gross margins climbing to over 82%, reflecting efficient scaling of the business [3][4] - Free cash flow surged to $76.9 million, up nearly 400% year-over-year, and Rubric holds over $1.5 billion in cash, providing ample room for growth without needing to raise additional funds [4][5] Victoria's Secret - Victoria's Secret reported a loss of 27 cents per share, better than the expected loss of 59 cents, with revenue coming in at $1.47 billion, also exceeding expectations [6][7] - The company experienced less reliance on discounting, leading to improved margins and a shrinking quarterly loss, with strong performance across both its namesake brand and Pink [7][8] - Traffic improvements outpaced overall mall traffic, indicating a resurgence in popularity among younger consumers, particularly those aged 18 to 24 [9] Ulta Beauty - Ulta Beauty's shares surged following better-than-expected results, with adjusted EPS of $5.14 compared to the expected $4.56, and revenue of $2.86 billion, surpassing the anticipated $2.72 billion [11] - Comparable sales increased by more than 6%, with strong performance in both mass market and premium brands, indicating robust consumer spending on beauty products [12][13] - The company reported positive trends in average transaction value and increased customer transactions, suggesting strong momentum heading into the holiday shopping season [13]

Core Viewpoint - Brett Blundy, a billionaire investor, is interested in joining the board of Victoria's Secret & Co. but faces obstacles due to the board's concerns about conflicts of interest and competitive issues [1][2]. Group 1: Blundy's Involvement and Intentions - Blundy's BBRC International owns 12.9% of Victoria's Secret and he has been attempting to influence the company since his initial investment in 2022 [1][2]. - He has communicated with the board through calls, meetings, and emails, expressing his views on the company's direction and seeking to address long-term issues [3]. - Blundy aims to join the board and replace chair Donna James, citing concerns over the board's oversight and management capabilities [4]. Group 2: Board's Response and Performance - The board claims to have engaged extensively with BBRC and highlights an 89% increase in stock price since the appointment of CEO Hillary Super [7]. - The board previously considered Blundy for a director position in late 2023 and early 2024 [7]. - In response to Blundy's demands, the board initiated a renewed evaluation of his candidacy, citing the need for additional due diligence due to potential conflicts of interest and past conduct issues [9]. Group 3: Ongoing Evaluation and Future Actions - The board's evaluation of Blundy's candidacy is ongoing, and they have not yet made a decision regarding his appointment [10]. - Blundy has indicated that if the board does not change its approach, he plans to attempt to replace directors at the next annual meeting [6].