PARIS – Alexander Lacik, Pandora’s president and chief executive officer of almost seven years, will retire at the company’s next annual general meeting on March 11. The Copenhagen-based contemporary jewelry maker’s chief marketing officer, Berta de Pablos-Barbier, will take over in the role. “I am honored to take over as CEO after Alexander next year,” said de Pablos-Barbier, a former LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton executive who joined the firm last November. “Under his leadership, Pandora has become an ...

Summary of Costco Wholesale (COST) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Costco Wholesale (COST) - **Market Cap**: $418.5 billion - **Enterprise Value**: $407.8 billion - **Industry**: Retail, Specialty Hardlines, Supermarkets, and Discount Stores Key Financial Results - **F4Q EPS**: $5.87, exceeding GS/consensus estimates of $5.85/$5.80 [19][20] - **Total Company Same Store Sales (SSS)**: +6.4%, in line with consensus but below GS estimate of +7.1% [19][20] - **Gross Margin**: 11.1%, above GS/consensus of 11.0%/10.9% [19][20] - **EBIT Margin**: 3.9%, compared to GS/consensus at 4.1%/3.9% [19][20] Membership Growth - **Total Paid Memberships**: 81.0 million, with a 7% year-over-year increase in membership income [13] - **Executive Memberships**: 38.7 million, representing 47.7% of all members, up from 47.2% last quarter [13] - **Incremental Sales from Extended Hours**: Estimated to contribute an additional +1% to U.S. weekly sales [13] Sales Performance - **Traffic Growth**: +3.7% contributing to SSS growth [2] - **Fresh Sales**: Up high single digits, driven by double-digit growth in meat [2] - **Non-Food Sales**: Up high single digits, with notable growth in gold, jewelry, and toys [2] - **Pharmacy, Optical, and Hearing Aids**: Continued strong performance [2] E-commerce Trends - **E-commerce Traffic Growth**: +27%, with significant increases in categories like gold, jewelry, and housewares [14] - **Delivery Improvements**: New delivery experience led to a +13% increase in items delivered [14] - **Personalized Offers**: Launched on the COST homepage, resulting in a +22% increase in traffic to product detail pages [14] Inflation and Cost Management - **Inflation Trends**: Remains in the low single digits (LSD) to mid single digits (MSD) range [14] - **LIFO Charge**: $43 million due to inflation impacts [14] - **Management Strategy**: Focus on changing assortments to mitigate inflation impacts, emphasizing high-ticket categories [14] Future Outlook - **12-Month Price Target**: Increased to $1,218 from $1,133, reflecting confidence in the company's value proposition [24] - **EPS Estimates**: Updated for FY26/27 to $19.68/$21.99, with a new FY28 estimate of $23.94 [22] Risks - **Competitive Landscape**: Risks from grocery, convenience, big-box, and e-commerce competitors [28] - **Macroeconomic Factors**: Potential headwinds from consumer demand and supply chain issues [28] Conclusion - **Investment Rating**: Reiterated Buy rating based on strong performance metrics and growth potential in membership and e-commerce [24]

This is the moment more than 20 masked and hooded people stormed into Heler Jewelers in broad daylight Monday. Some of them armed with guns, others with crowbars. Police say the mob then helped themselves to a million dollars worth of fine jewelry.>> When they went in, they they basically uh took over the store. They went to all the jewelry display cases and began just smashing the display cases at will, using the crowbars and and the pickaxes and basically taking whatever uh jewelry was available. >> When ...

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST) posted steady August sales growth, underscoring resilient consumer demand across food and nonfood categories. Excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange, consolidated comparable sales increased 6.9% year-over-year in August. U.S. comparable sales increased by 6.7%, Canada by 9.4%, and international markets by 5.3%, while e-commerce surged by 18.3%. Also Read: Costco Stock Hits A Death Cross — But Don’t Hit Sell Just Yet The company’s tr ...

Company Overview - Tapestry, Inc., formerly known as Coach, Inc., is a designer and marketer of fine accessories and gifts for both women and men, operating in the United States and internationally [12] - The company offers a range of lifestyle products, including handbags, accessories, footwear, jewelry, seasonal apparel, sunwear, travel bags, fragrances, and watches [12] - Tapestry operates under three segments: Coach brand (79.9% of fiscal 2025 sales), Kate Spade & Company (17.1% of sales), and Stuart Weitzman (3.1% of sales) [12] Investment Analysis - Tapestry has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of B, indicating a moderate investment outlook [13] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of B, with shares increasing by 11.8% over the past four weeks [13] - Four analysts have revised their earnings estimates higher for fiscal 2026, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.03 to $5.46 per share [13] - Tapestry has an average earnings surprise of +10.3%, suggesting positive performance relative to expectations [13] - With a solid Zacks Rank and strong Momentum and VGM Style Scores, Tapestry is recommended for investors' consideration [14]

Retail Sales Performance - Bank of America Securities reported strong spending during the back-to-school season in August, particularly in apparel, indicating resilience in consumer activity despite inflation concerns [1] - Total retail sales excluding autos rose 1.9% year over year in August, an increase from 1.1% in July [1] Apparel and Clothing Trends - Clothing purchases increased by 4.4% in August compared to 3.5% in July, reflecting heightened demand as families prepared for the new school year [2] - Higher-income households increased their apparel spending, while lower-income households reduced purchases, leading to a widening consumption gap [2] Market Dynamics and Consumer Behavior - Analysts noted that price pressures are affecting budget-conscious consumers more severely, particularly with new tariffs impacting the supply chain [3] - Spending at discount apparel outlets grew by 1.3% in August, up from 0.8% in July, as shoppers shifted from full-price retailers [3] - Department store sales contracted by 0.8% in August, following a 0.4% decline in July [3] Category Performance - Specialty running channels saw a sharp decline compared to July, while direct-to-consumer footwear improved its performance [4] - Jewelry purchases grew by 8.6% and beauty sales expanded by 9% in August, maintaining their status as top-performing retail categories [4] - Athletic footwear and apparel lagged, declining by 2.4% in August after a smaller decline the previous month [4]

Financial Performance - Revenue for FY25 reached $1063 million, compared to $1100 million in FY24[19, 32] - Adjusted EBITDA for FY25 was $365 million, a significant increase from $243 million in FY24[19, 38] - Earnings per share increased from $009 in FY24 to $030 in FY25[19, 35] - Gross margin improved from 117% in FY24 to 125% in FY25[34] - Net income increased substantially from $46 million in FY24 to $151 million in FY25[37] Q4 FY25 Performance - Revenue for Q4 FY25 was $228 million, slightly lower than $237 million in Q4 FY24[21] - Cost of revenue decreased from $210 million in Q4 FY24 to $192 million in Q4 FY25[23] - Gross margin percentage increased from 114% in Q4 FY24 to 158% in Q4 FY25[25] - Earnings per share increased from $005 in Q4 FY24 to $011 in Q4 FY25[27] - Net income increased from $25 million in Q4 FY24 to $58 million in Q4 FY25[28] - Adjusted EBITDA increased significantly from $21 million in Q4 FY24 to $122 million in Q4 FY25[30] Business Overview - The company's exclusive distribution and licensing agreements drive annual sales exceeding $375 million[40] - Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales contribute 37% of the company's net revenue[64]

Core Viewpoint - Pandora is expanding its distribution capabilities in North America by building a larger distribution center in Maryland to support its growth in the region, which is its largest and fastest-growing market [1][2]. Group 1: Expansion Plans - The new distribution facility in Anne Arundel, Maryland, will increase Pandora's distribution footprint in the U.S. by nearly 80% [2]. - Construction of the new facility is set to begin this month, with an expected opening in the first half of 2026 [2]. Group 2: Market Performance - Pandora has reported a 12% organic growth in the U.S. during the first half of 2025, attributed to strong in-store and online traffic [1]. - The company's U.S. revenue has more than doubled from 2020 to 2024, indicating significant growth in this market [1]. Group 3: Workforce - The company employs approximately 8,000 people in the U.S., which accounts for nearly 22% of its global workforce [3].

Summary of Inbound Travel Retail in China Industry Overview - The inbound travel retail market in China is projected to grow from **US$14 billion in 2024 to US$60 billion by 2034**, representing a **15% CAGR** [1][10][27] - By 2034, inbound travel retail is expected to account for **25% of China's total travel retail market**, up from **10%** in previous years [10][27] Key Drivers of Growth - **Globally Known Brands**: The presence of well-known brands and competitive pricing is attracting international tourists [4][10] - **Improved Shopping Experience**: The introduction of tax-free shopping (TFS) and instant tax refunds is enhancing the shopping experience for inbound tourists [5][10][31] - **Policy Support**: Recent policy changes are aimed at expanding tax-free shopping and improving infrastructure to support inbound tourism [26][48] Tax-Free Shopping Impact - The tax-free shopping market is expected to grow from **<US$0.5 billion in 2024 to US$20 billion by 2035** [94] - The **instant tax refund system** was expanded nationwide in April 2025, significantly increasing the number of malls offering this service from **2 to 17** among the top 20 malls in China [5][34][98] - Retail sales with tax refunds in cities like Shenzhen and Shanghai have shown remarkable growth, with increases of **160% and 75% YoY**, respectively, in the first half of 2025 [35][103] Competitive Pricing - Chinese brands offer products at **20-50% lower prices** compared to international markets, making them attractive to tourists [4][29] - Imported luxury goods in China are competitively priced, often similar to or lower than prices in key Asian markets [29][74] Market Segmentation - The inbound travel retail market is primarily driven by international tourists, excluding visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, who are expected to contribute significantly to growth [27][45] - The duty-free market is also gaining traction, with projections of **US$5 billion in spending by inbound tourists by 2035** [36] Implications for Retailers - Retailers, malls, and duty-free operators in China are expected to benefit the most from the growth in inbound tourism [6][40] - Companies like **CR Land, Hang Lung Properties, and CTG Duty Free** are identified as key beneficiaries [43] Risks and Challenges - Potential dilution of the Hong Kong retail market due to increased competition from mainland China [6][40] - The need for improved tax refund services and training for sales staff to facilitate the shopping experience for tourists [39] Conclusion - The inbound travel retail market in China is at a pivotal point, with significant growth potential driven by favorable policies, competitive pricing, and an enhanced shopping experience. Retailers and duty-free operators are well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, although challenges remain in execution and market competition.

Core Viewpoint - The escalating tensions between the United States and India, driven by energy trade and tariff disputes, have drawn significant international attention [1] Group 1: U.S.-India Trade Relations - On August 27, the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on over 55% of Indian exports to the U.S., affecting goods worth hundreds of billions [5] - The U.S. Trade Advisor Peter Navarro criticized India for its continued oil imports from Russia, linking it to the funding of the Russian war effort [3][7] - The new tariffs are expected to lead to a 40% drop in India's exports to the U.S. this fiscal year, amounting to approximately $37 billion [15] Group 2: Energy Trade Dynamics - India has increased its oil imports from Russia by 15 times since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saving at least $17 billion due to lower prices [11] - The U.S. has expressed concerns that India's high tariff barriers have contributed to job losses and wage stagnation in the U.S. manufacturing sector [7][9] Group 3: Diplomatic Responses - India has maintained that its energy purchases from Russia are based on national security needs rather than political alignment [11] - The Indian government is reportedly planning to reduce Russian oil imports while increasing energy purchases from the U.S. [13] Group 4: Broader Implications - The current tensions could regress U.S.-India relations to a low point reminiscent of the aftermath of India's nuclear tests in 1998 [15] - The conflict may extend to other areas, including visa issues for Indian tech talent in the U.S. and IT outsourcing services [15][17] - The outcome of this geopolitical struggle is likely to reshape not only U.S.-India relations but also the global geopolitical landscape and international trade order [17][18]