Core Viewpoint - Allbirds is shifting its focus from physical retail to online sales to enhance profitability, closing its remaining full-price stores in the U.S. by the end of February [1][2]. Group 1: Company Strategy - The CEO of Allbirds stated that the closure of unprofitable stores is a crucial step towards achieving profitable growth under a turnaround strategy [2]. - The company has been reducing its brick-and-mortar presence over the past two years to cut costs and support long-term business health [2]. - Allbirds will maintain two outlet stores in the U.S. and two full-price stores in London, indicating a strategic pivot rather than a complete exit from physical retail [2]. Group 2: Market Context - Allbirds originated in Silicon Valley and gained traction during the direct-to-consumer boom, going public in 2021 [3]. - The rise in rents and the declining appeal of physical retail have prompted Allbirds and other direct-to-consumer companies to prioritize digital sales [4]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In its third-quarter earnings report, Allbirds reported a 23.3% decline in net revenue compared to the same period the previous year, largely due to changes in international distribution and store closures [5]. - Net revenue from U.S. stores decreased by approximately 20% year-over-year [5]. - The company has a market cap of $32 million but has experienced a stock decline of over 80% in the past two years [5].

Faced with economic headwinds like high inflation and a potentially weakening job market, consumers have been wary. With people pulling back their spending, consumer goods companies have been feeling the effects. That's reflected in the S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector's 4.8% return over the past year through Jan. 22. By contrast, the S&P 500 returned 15.1% over this period. But that could present a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Looking at two well-known companies, Nike (NYSE: NKE) and ...

Core Insights - U.S. consumer sentiment has sharply declined, with the consumer confidence index dropping to 84.5 in January from 94.2 in December, marking the lowest level since 2014 [1][2] Consumer Sentiment and Economic Outlook - Persistent concerns about high living costs and limited affordability are eroding consumer optimism, compounded by rising geopolitical tensions and aggressive trade policies that amplify business uncertainty [2] - With consumer sentiment at a decade low, households may adopt a more defensive spending approach, potentially leading to softer consumer spending and impacting sales and earnings growth for consumer-facing sectors [3] Retail Sector Resilience - Despite weakening consumer confidence, companies like Dollar General, Walmart, Dollar Tree, and TJX are well-positioned to navigate a cautious consumer environment, benefiting as households prioritize essentials and seek greater value [4][8] - Dollar General's remodel strategy and digital growth are expected to support sales and earnings acceleration, while Walmart's omnichannel strength and profit mix shift are driving market share gains [6][12] Company-Specific Insights Dollar General - Dollar General is solidifying its market position through extreme value and convenience, with a focus on market share gains across consumable and non-consumable categories [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar General's current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 4.8% and 9.6%, respectively, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.9% [10] Walmart - Walmart leverages its scale and diversified business model, focusing on high-growth initiatives that shift its profit mix, resulting in consistent double-digit e-commerce growth [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart's current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 4.5% and 4.8%, respectively, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.8% [13] Dollar Tree - Dollar Tree is enhancing its focus as a pure-play value retailer, broadening its consumer appeal and strengthening operational discipline [15] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree's current financial-year EPS implies growth of 12.4%, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.1% [16] TJX Companies - TJX's off-price business model and disciplined inventory management drive consistent foot traffic and market share capture [18] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TJX's current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 6.5% and 9.6%, respectively, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.5% [19]

US equity futures are rallying into record territory, led by Tech as overnight earnings (ASML, SK Hynix, STX, TXN) boost the group and help fuel the AI trade, perhaps pausing the broadening theme. As of 8:00am ET S&P futures are up 0.2% pointing to a sixth-straight advance that would mark the longest winning run in almost seven months and will push the S&P 500 cash index above the 7,000 mark for the first time when US markets open; Nasdaq futures surge 0.8, putting the index within touching distance of its ...

Costco’s (NASDAQ: COST) first quarterly dividend of 2026 is coming on February 13.The company, which started rewarding its shareholders with dividend payments in 2005, will distribute $1.30 per share to investors on record as of January 30.Costco dividend schedule. Source: Dividend.comHow much will 100 Costco shares earn next month?Compared to the previous payment, issued on November 14, 2025, the amount paid remains unchanged.Investors holding 100 COST shares will accordingly receive $130 in dividends next ...

Irish retail sales volumes fell 0.1% year-on-year in December, the first annual decline in nine months and a dramatic drop from revised annual growth of 2.1% the previous month, Central Statistics Office data showed on Wednesday. ...

Core Viewpoint - Investing in dividend stocks provides a reliable income stream that can be reinvested or used for expenses, allowing investors to hold shares without selling them [1] Group 1: Consumer Spending and Dividend Stocks - Consumer spending is crucial for the economy, and high-quality dividend stocks can be found in consumer-facing companies with strong brands [2] - Examples of such companies include Costco Wholesale, The Coca-Cola Company, and Altria Group, each representing different investment styles [2] Group 2: Costco Wholesale - Costco Wholesale is a leading retailer with a loyal customer base, known for its membership model and bulk merchandise sales [3] - The company has a market capitalization of $431 billion, with a current stock price of $970.66 and a dividend yield of 0.52% [4][5] - Costco has paid and raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, spending only a quarter of its earnings on dividends, indicating potential for future growth [5] Group 3: The Coca-Cola Company - Coca-Cola is a global beverage leader with a strong track record of dividend growth, having increased its dividend for 62 consecutive years [6] - The company has a market capitalization of $316 billion, with a current stock price of $73.55 and a dividend yield of 2.77% [7][8] - Coca-Cola's growth is supported by a rising global population and brand recognition, allowing for continued expansion in a fragmented beverage market [8] Group 4: Altria Group - Altria Group, known for its Marlboro cigarettes, has maintained profitability despite declining cigarette sales due to its pricing power [9] - The company has a market capitalization of $107 billion, with a current stock price of $63.62 and a dividend yield of 6.54% [10] - Altria has achieved 54 consecutive annual dividend increases, providing a substantial yield despite low single-digit earnings growth [10]

The closure of the Amazon Go and Fresh stores is the end of an era for the online giant. ...

When markets resume trading today, Hindustan Zinc, Vedanta, Marico, Vodafone IdeaVodafone Idea narrowed its consolidated losses to Rs 5,286 crore in Q3FY26 versus Rs 6,609 crore in the year ago period. The telecom company's revenue from operations for the quarter stood at Rs 11,323 crore, up 2% over Rs 11,117 crore in the corresponding quarter of the last financial year.Live EventsVedanta / Hindustan Zinc on Tuesday approved the sale of up to 1.59% stake representing up to 6.7 crore equity shares in its su ...

THE EQUITY RALLY EXTENDS BUT CONFIDENCE IN IT NARROWS. LIVE FROM STUDIO 2 HERE AT BLOOMBERG HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK, I'M ROMAINE BOSTICK. KATIE: I'M KATIE GREIFELD. LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NASDAQ 500. WHERE A LOT OF YOUR BIG TECH NAMES LIVE. THE NASDAQ 100 HIGHER BY ABOUT 1%. THE BLOOMBERG DOLLAR ABOUT .7%. IT'S HARD TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS GOING ON IS AS RISK ON OR RISK OFF. >> YES, RISING EQUITY PRICES. YES, RISK ON IN ONE SENSE, YES, LOW VOLATILITY BUT VERY HIGH UNCERTAIN TIP. PEOPLE ARE JUST FALLING ...