This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback It’s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week and what we’re still thinking about. From consumer spending forecasts to Playboy energy drinks, here’s our closeout for the week.What you may have missedLevi’s brings Target vet on boardLevi Strauss & Co. appointed Jeffrey Jones to its board, effective Jan. 21, the company said in a Tuesday ...

Core Insights - Academy Sports + Outdoors is experiencing strong performance in the footwear segment, particularly in performance running shoes from brands like Nike, Brooks, Asics, and New Balance [1] - The athletic slide category has seen a significant resurgence, with double-digit growth driven by ultra-comfort options like Nike Reactx Rejuven8 and Adidas Adilette Comfort Slide [2] - The affordability of slides, priced around $30, appeals to consumers facing financial constraints, making them a popular choice [3] - The company is positioned well in the K-shaped economy, attracting both affluent customers and value-oriented consumers, as noted by Jefferies analyst Jonathan Matuszewski [4] - Promotions are influencing purchasing patterns, with sales aggregating around promotional events [5] - Anticipation for the next year's World Cup is expected to boost sales in specific categories, particularly soccer-related footwear and equipment [6]

Group 1 - Stocks showed mixed performance with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing while the Nasdaq Composite declined slightly, particularly affected by Big Tech stocks [1] - Nvidia shares dropped over 6% following reports that Meta may utilize Google's tensor processing units (TPUs) in its data centers starting in 2027, while Broadcom's stock rose 11% on the news [1] - Jim Cramer suggested that the decline in Nvidia presents a buying opportunity and indicated that investors might also consider buying Meta due to potential cost savings on chips [1] Group 2 - The day was described as "discouraging" for tech investors, highlighting the importance of a diversified portfolio, with a preference for defensive stocks like Procter & Gamble [1] - Procter & Gamble is expected to undergo changes with a new CEO starting in January, which may involve cutting underperforming units [1] - The company has been underperforming recently, but there is an expectation that funds will shift from high-growth tech stocks to more stable, profitable companies, leading to an increase in their position [1] Group 3 - Home Depot's stock is down nearly 12% year-to-date, and the weakness was used as an opportunity to increase the position in the company, with expectations that the stock will rise when interest rates fall [1] - Nike shares increased by 3% after Dick's Sporting Goods announced plans to close several Foot Locker locations, which may benefit Nike [1] - Dick's Sporting Goods reported an improving relationship with Nike, citing strong performance in Nike's running line, which has been successful in both Dick's and Foot Locker stores [1] Group 4 - Other stocks mentioned include Best Buy, Agilent Tech, and Abercrombie, indicating a broader market interest [1]