What's the dumbest thing you've seen someone do with money? For many people, the answer comes quickly: buying things they can't afford, blowing windfalls, chasing hot investments or upgrading their lifestyle before their income can support it. Stories of million-dollar waterfront homes, luxury cars on long loans, payday advances and blown inheritances all point to the same pattern of emotions first, math later. That was the tone of a recent discussion on Reddit's r/DaveRamsey forum, where users shared r ...

“When you look at the rich consumers, the amount of income they make is small relative to the amount of wealth that they have, and so if they feel good, it’s primarily driven by asset prices,” he said, noting that middle-class buyers remain far more salary-dependent.Solca said that while the U.S. and Japanese markets have seen luxury buoyed by soaring asset prices spread more broadly across the middle class, China’s recovery leans heavily on wealthier consumers invested in the stock market and real estate.“ ...

Core Insights - The company achieved consolidated revenue of €16 billion in 2025, marking a 9% increase at constant exchange rates and a 5.5% increase at current exchange rates compared to 2024 [2] - Recurring operating income reached €6.6 billion, representing 41% of sales and a 7% increase from the previous year [9] - Net profit attributable to the group was €4.5 billion, up 5.5%, aligning with sales growth [10] Financial Performance - The fourth quarter sales amounted to €4.1 billion, reflecting a 10% increase at constant exchange rates [3] - Cash flow from operating activities was €5.4 billion, a 5% increase, with adjusted free cash flow reaching €3.9 billion after operational investments [11] - The net cash position at the end of December 2025 was €12.8 billion, up from €12.0 billion in 2024 [11] Geographical Performance - All geographical areas reported strong growth, with Japan (+14%), the Americas (+12%), and Europe (excluding France) (+11%) leading the way [7] - Asia excluding Japan saw a growth of 5%, with notable performances in Korea and Thailand due to store reopenings [7] Sector Performance - Leather Goods and Saddlery grew by 13%, driven by increased production capacities and new model introductions [6] - The Ready-to-wear and Accessories sector confirmed a 6% growth, while Perfume and Beauty experienced a decline of 8% [8] - Watches saw a slight decrease of 2%, but returned to growth in the second half of the year [8] Employment and Sustainability - The company increased its workforce by over 1,300, including 800 in France, bringing total employment to 26,494 [12] - Hermès announced a €120 gross monthly increase for all employees in France and a €3,000 bonus for all employees worldwide [13] - The company has made significant strides in sustainability, achieving a 69% reduction in emissions for scopes 1 and 2 since 2018 [14][16] Future Outlook - The company expresses confidence moving into 2026, aiming for ambitious revenue growth despite global uncertainties [19] - The focus remains on maintaining a unique business model centered on creativity and craftsmanship [20]

Core Viewpoint - Movado (MOV) shows a significant improvement in earnings outlook, making it an attractive investment option as analysts continue to raise earnings estimates for the company [1][2]. Estimate Revisions - The upward trend in earnings estimate revisions indicates growing analyst optimism regarding Movado's earnings prospects, which is expected to positively impact its stock price [2]. - For the current quarter, Movado is projected to earn $0.53 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +3.9%. Over the last 30 days, one estimate has increased, leading to a 25% rise in the Zacks Consensus Estimate [6]. - For the full year, the earnings estimate is $1.15 per share, representing a +2.7% change from the previous year. The trend remains positive, with one estimate moving higher and no negative revisions [7]. Zacks Rank - Movado has achieved a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating strong agreement among analysts in revising earnings estimates upward. This rank is based on a proven track record of outperforming the market [8]. - Stocks with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) have historically outperformed the S&P 500, suggesting a favorable investment environment for Movado [8]. Stock Performance - Movado shares have increased by 7.5% over the past four weeks, indicating investor confidence in the company's earnings growth prospects due to the positive estimate revisions [9].

Core Viewpoint - The Swatch Group reported weaker earnings for 2025 despite a positive sales trend in the second half of the year, with expectations for broad growth in 2026 [1][6]. Financial Performance - The company posted net sales of SFr6.28 billion ($8.11 billion), a decrease of 1.3% at constant exchange rates [1]. - Net profit fell to SFr25 million from SFr219 million the previous year [1]. - Operating profit declined to SFr135 million from SFr304 million, resulting in a margin of 2.1% [2]. - Operating cash flow improved by 52.3% to SFr507 million [3]. Sales and Market Trends - Second-half sales increased by 4.7% at constant currencies, accelerating to 7.2% in the fourth quarter across all price tiers globally [2]. - Revenue, excluding China, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR, grew by 3.4% for 2025 and over 10% in the fourth quarter [4]. - The Americas experienced nearly 20% local-currency growth, primarily driven by the US market [4]. Segment Performance - Within the watches and jewellery segment, operating profit reached SFr549 million, with a margin of 9.5%, down from 10.6% in 2024 [2]. - Retail expansion continued, with over 47% of revenue coming directly from consumers, and online sales surpassing pandemic-era levels in many regions [5]. Future Outlook - Management anticipates substantial growth in 2026 across all price segments, with higher utilization expected to significantly reduce or reverse production losses and enhance profitability [6].

Core Insights - The Swiss watchmaker reported a year-over-year decline in sales, despite experiencing growth in the latter half of the year [1] - The company indicated that the positive sales momentum has continued into the current month [1] Company Performance - Sales fell on a year-over-year basis, highlighting challenges faced by the company [1] - Growth was observed in the back half of the year, suggesting a potential recovery trend [1] - The company has noted ongoing momentum in sales for the current month, indicating a positive outlook [1]

Apple Keeps Finding New CustomersCONCLUDED[Apple Earnings Beat Estimates. iPhone Has 'Best-Ever Quarter.']Last Updated:---18 hours ago# Apple Keeps Finding New CustomersBy[Adam Levine]Even though they are mature products, Apple continues to attract new customers to its Macs, iPads, and Watches, with more and more people apparently valuing the ecosystem's integration. About half of the customers for the three products were buying their first one. ...

Core Insights - India has evolved its approach to free trade agreements (FTAs), moving from a cautious stance to a more flexible and confident negotiation strategy, particularly in sensitive sectors like agriculture and manufacturing [1][7][10] Trade Agreements and Concessions - The initial duty concessions under early FTAs led to increased imports by companies like Honda and Sony, raising concerns about the impact on domestic manufacturing [1] - The government has been careful in its tariff policies, particularly avoiding cuts in sensitive sectors such as wine, spirits, and automobiles to protect local industries [2][12] - A notable shift occurred with the interim trade agreement with Australia in 2022, where India showed willingness to lower tariffs on wine above a certain price threshold while providing technical support to domestic producers [3][12] - Subsequent agreements expanded the scope of concessions, including products like chocolates and watches in the pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which also included a commitment of $100 billion in foreign direct investment [6][12] - By the time of the agreement with the European Union, the list of protected items had significantly decreased, with negotiators more open to trade-offs, reflecting increased confidence [7][12] Specific Trade Conditions - Tariff cuts on French and Spanish wines were exchanged for limited access to European markets for Indian grapes, with strict conditions on imports of pears and apples, including volume caps and a minimum import price [8][12] - The government tailored concessions based on market opportunities, declining duty concessions for British electric vehicles but allowing limited imports under the EU deal [9][12] Engagement on New Issues - India's evolving approach includes engagement on "new issues" in modern FTAs, such as intellectual property rights, digital trade, and environmental concerns, while ensuring these do not exceed existing international obligations [10][12]

Core Insights - India has evolved its approach to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), moving from cautious duty concessions to more strategic trade-offs that include sensitive sectors and investment commitments [2][4][5] Group 1: Trade Agreements and Tariff Adjustments - The Indian government initially refrained from cutting duties on sensitive sectors like wine, spirits, and automobiles to protect domestic manufacturing and agriculture [2][4] - An interim deal with Australia in 2022 marked a shift, allowing for lower tariffs on wine above a specified value while providing technical support to local producers [2][4] - The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) agreement included new products like chocolates and watches, and promised a fresh Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of $100 billion [3][4] Group 2: Negotiation Strategies and Trade-offs - Indian negotiators have learned to make trade-offs, such as reducing duties on French or Spanish wine in exchange for limited grape imports from Europe [3][4] - The government has allowed limited quantities of pears and apples with a minimum import price to ensure that the landed cost does not fall below Rs 96 per kg [5] - The approach to FTAs has evolved to include "new issues" like intellectual property rights, digital trade, and labor, while maintaining commitments aligned with international standards [5]

Core Viewpoint - Movado Group, Inc. is recognized as one of the best jewellery stocks to buy, with a positive outlook from analysts and strong financial performance indicators [1][2]. Financial Performance - Net sales increased by 3.1% year over year, reaching $186.1 million in the most recent quarter [3]. - The gross margin improved to 54.3%, indicating better profitability [3]. - Operating income rose significantly to $11.7 million from $6.0 million the previous year, with adjusted operating income at $12.6 million [3]. - Adjusted EPS was reported at $0.45, while diluted EPS increased to $0.42 [3]. - The company ended the quarter with $183.9 million in cash and no debt, showcasing a strong balance sheet [3]. - A quarterly dividend of $0.35 per share was announced by the board [3]. Market Position and Analyst Coverage - Northland initiated coverage of Movado Group with an Outperform rating and a price target of $30, citing the company's resilience and experienced management [2]. - The company has shown a year-to-date growth of 9.42% as of January 13, 2026 [4]. Business Overview - Movado Group, Inc. is involved in the creation, production, sourcing, marketing, and sale of watches both in the US and internationally [5].