Core Insights - Walmart reported strong fourth-quarter results, with fiscal revenue reaching $190.7 billion, a 5.6% increase year-over-year, driven by a 4.6% rise in U.S. comparable sales [1] - Online sales reached a record share of total sales, accounting for 23% of total sales in the U.S., with a 27% increase in e-commerce sales [5] - The company gained market share across various income tiers, indicating that its pricing and convenience strategies are appealing to a broader customer base [7] Financial Performance - Adjusted operating income grew by approximately 10%, outpacing the 5% growth in overall sales, driven by higher-margin businesses such as advertising and membership programs [7] - Advertising revenue increased by 37% globally, with a 41% growth for Walmart Connect in the U.S., while membership fee income rose by over 15% [7] - Inventory growth remained below sales growth, reflecting effective supply chain management [9] Future Outlook - Walmart anticipates sales growth of 3.5% to 4.5% for the current fiscal year, with operating profit expected to increase by 6% to 8% [9] - The results indicate that U.S. consumers are resilient and focused on value, while Walmart's investments in digital services and faster delivery are enhancing its competitive position [10]

Walmart (WMT) is set to report earnings on Thursday morning, the first for its new CEO, John Furner, and a report that offers a readout of the key holiday shopping season after the company's market cap recently eclipsed $1 trillion for the first time. The retailer is expected to report adjusted earnings per share of $0.73, per Bloomberg consensus data. Revenue is expected to increase nearly 6% to $190 billion. Same-store sales for its US business are expected to grow 4.3%, driven by e-commerce strength ...

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. consumers have driven Walmart's grocery penetration to a record 72% as financial insecurity among Americans ages 18–54 climbs to 70%, according to Wave 12 of the dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker (CTT) released today. Walmart serves over 190 million Americans monthly—2.5 times the reach of second-place Dollar General at 28.6%. Walmart's penetration rose 6 percentage points (pp) year over year, marking the largest growth in penetration among all retailers. The q. ...

Key Takeaways Walmart delivered solid U.S. comparable sales growth, led by gains in grocery and essentials.Walmart's e-commerce business posted strong double-digit growth, boosting digital momentum.Walmart maintained tight inventory control while expanding permanent price reductions.Walmart Inc. (WMT) is reinforcing its competitive edge by staying focused on value, convenience and disciplined execution as retail conditions remain uncertain. Customers continue to spend, with upper and middle-income household ...

Core Viewpoint - George Weston Limited has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3625 per share on its Preferred Shares, Series I, payable on March 15, 2026, to shareholders of record on February 28, 2026 [1] Company Overview - George Weston Limited is a Canadian public company established in 1882 [2] - The company operates through two reportable segments: Loblaw Companies Limited and Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust [2] - Loblaw offers a variety of products and services including grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products [2] - Choice Properties focuses on owning, operating, and developing a high-quality portfolio of commercial and residential properties across Canada [2]

Core Insights - The company has made significant investments in automation, AI, and digital advertising, which facilitated its transition from the NYSE to the Nasdaq in December last year [1][7] - Walmart has achieved a market capitalization of $1 trillion, marking it as the first major brick-and-mortar retailer to reach this valuation tier typically associated with tech companies [4][8] - The stock has shown strong performance, with a 27.5% increase over the past 52 weeks and a 17.8% rise in 2026 alone, outperforming the S&P 500 Index [8][9] Company Overview - Walmart operates as a tech-enabled omnichannel retailer, serving approximately 270 million customers weekly across over 10,750 stores and various online platforms in 19 countries [3][4] - The company has a long history of steady growth since its public listing in 1972, driven by continuous improvements in retail operations and digital commerce capabilities [2] Financial Performance - In Q3 of fiscal 2026, Walmart reported net sales of $179.5 billion, a 5.8% year-over-year increase, surpassing Wall Street's expectations [11] - Global eCommerce sales surged by 27%, while the global advertising business grew by 53%, indicating strong operational momentum [12] - The company’s adjusted earnings per share rose by 7% year-over-year to $0.62, exceeding the consensus estimate [13] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of October 31, 2025, Walmart held $10.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents, with total debt at $53.1 billion [14] - Operating cash flow increased to $27.5 billion, up $4.5 billion from the previous year, and free cash flow rose to $8.8 billion [14] Future Outlook - Management has raised its fiscal 2026 outlook, expecting net sales growth of 4.8% to 5.1% and adjusted operating income growth of 4.8% to 5.5% [15] - Adjusted EPS is projected to be between $2.58 and $2.63, indicating continued momentum [15] Analyst Sentiment - Walmart stock holds a consensus "Strong Buy" rating from Wall Street, with 29 out of 38 analysts recommending a "Strong Buy" [16] - The average price target is $125.41, with a Street-high target of $147, suggesting further potential upside of about 12.1% [16]

Company Overview - George Weston Limited is a Canadian public company founded in 1882 [2] - The company operates through two reportable segments: Loblaw Companies Limited and Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust [2] Loblaw Companies Limited - Loblaw provides a wide range of products and services including grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products [2] Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust - Choice Properties owns, operates, and develops high-quality commercial and residential properties across Canada [2] Upcoming Financial Results - George Weston Limited will release its 2025 fourth quarter and full year results on March 4, 2026, at approximately 7:00 AM (ET) [1]

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. and Target Corporation are major players in U.S. big-box retail, each utilizing extensive store networks and omnichannel strategies to attract diverse consumer spending [1] - Walmart, with a market cap of approximately $929.4 billion, relies on its everyday low-price model and diversified revenue streams, while Target, valued at around $46.2 billion, focuses on design-led products and private-label offerings [2] Group 1: Walmart's Positioning - Walmart's business model emphasizes consistent execution and investment, appealing to value-conscious consumers amid selective discretionary spending [4] - E-commerce is a significant growth driver for Walmart, with enhancements in delivery options and the integration of AI tools to improve customer engagement and operational efficiency [5][6] - The company is focusing on higher-margin businesses, such as Walmart Connect and membership programs, to stabilize revenues and offset challenges like rising labor costs [6][7] Group 2: Target's Transformation - Target is undergoing a multi-year transformation aimed at enhancing its product offerings and shopping experience, with a focus on digital engagement and convenience services [8][10] - The retailer is investing in technology and analytics to improve demand forecasting and inventory management, although it faces challenges in recovering demand due to macroeconomic pressures [11][12] - Despite operational improvements, Target anticipates low-single-digit declines in sales and comparable sales for the upcoming fiscal quarter, indicating a cautious outlook [12] Group 3: Financial Performance and Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart indicates year-over-year growth of 4.5% in sales and 4.8% in EPS for the current fiscal year, with positive revisions for the next fiscal year [13] - In contrast, Target's estimates suggest declines of 1.6% in sales and 17.6% in EPS for the current fiscal year, but a potential recovery with increases of 2.3% and 5.9% in the next fiscal year [16] - Over the past year, Walmart's stock has increased by 17.9%, while Target's has decreased by 27.6%, highlighting a significant divergence in performance [18] Group 4: Valuation and Investment Outlook - Walmart's forward P/E ratio of 39.46 reflects a premium valuation due to its scale and defensive profile, while Target's forward P/E of 13.17 suggests modest expectations amid ongoing concerns [20] - Currently, Walmart is viewed as a more favorable investment due to its resilient positioning and diversified growth strategies, while Target is still navigating a recovery phase [21]

Core Viewpoint - Investors with significant capital have adopted a bearish stance on Costco Wholesale, indicating potential market movements or insider knowledge regarding upcoming events [1][2]. Options Trading Activity - The sentiment among large-money traders is predominantly bearish, with 63% of positions being bearish and only 36% bullish. Notably, there were 11 options trades identified, including 1 put option worth $37,000 and 10 call options totaling $643,669 [3][2]. - The major market movers are focusing on a price range between $740.0 and $1060.0 for Costco Wholesale over the past three months, suggesting a strategic interest in this price band [4]. Volume and Open Interest - The mean open interest for Costco Wholesale options trades is 346.2, with a total trading volume of 156.00, indicating a moderate level of activity in the options market [5]. Largest Options Trades - Significant options trades include a bearish call sweep with a total trade price of $162.6K and various bullish trades with total prices ranging from $61.2K to $112.0K, reflecting mixed sentiments among traders [9]. Company Overview - Costco Wholesale operates approximately 910 warehouses globally, serving over 80 million members. The company generates about 73% of its revenue from the US, with grocery offerings accounting for 55% of fiscal 2025 revenue [10]. - Analysts have issued ratings for Costco Wholesale, with a consensus target price of $1066.67, reflecting a generally positive outlook despite current bearish options activity [11]. Current Stock Performance - The stock price of COST is currently at $977.35, showing a slight increase of 0.12%. Analysts maintain optimistic ratings, with target prices of $1000 and $1100 from different firms [13].

Core Points - President Trump claimed victory over inflation, stating that the U.S. has "virtually no inflation" and that consumer prices are decreasing rapidly [2] - Federal data contradicts Trump's claims, indicating that inflation remains elevated, with the consumer price index at a 2.7% annual rate as of December 2025 [3] - Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is at 2.6%, indicating persistent inflation concerns for policymakers [4] Inflation and Tariffs - Trump's tariff policy is contributing to upward pressure on inflation, complicating claims of victory over inflation [5] - The average effective tariff rate in the U.S. is 17.5%, the highest since 1932, significantly up from around 2% at the beginning of 2025 [6] - Consumers are expected to pay an additional $1,300 to $1,700 in 2026 due to current tariff rates compared to pre-2025 levels [7] Consumer Price Trends - Mortgage rates have decreased to an average of 6.21%, down from over 7% in January 2025, translating to approximately $1,800 in annual savings on a $300,000 loan [10][11] - National rent index fell by 0.8% in December, with an overall decline of 1.3% year-over-year, now averaging $1,356 [12] - Car payments have increased, with the average monthly payment for new vehicles reaching $772, up from $754 at the end of 2024 [14][15] Energy and Grocery Prices - Gasoline prices have decreased by nearly 10% to an average of $2.81 per gallon since Trump took office [16] - Electricity prices have surged nearly 7% over the past year, driven by increased demand from data centers [18] - Grocery prices have risen by 2.4% year-over-year, with specific items like beef and coffee seeing significant price increases of 16% and 20%, respectively [19][20] Airfare Trends - Airline fares have declined by more than 3% year-over-year, supported by lower jet fuel prices [21][22] - The price data does not account for ancillary fees, which can significantly impact travelers' budgets [23]