Core Insights - Costco's total comparable sales increased by 5.8% in June, driven by strong demand for fresh foods and non-food categories such as jewelry, major appliances, and gift cards [1] - The retailer's net sales rose by 8.0% to reach $26.44 billion during the retail month of June [3] Sales Performance by Region - In the United States, sales increased by 4.7%, while in Canada, sales rose by 6.7%, and in other international markets, sales grew by 10.9% [2] eCommerce Growth - Costco's eCommerce sales experienced an increase of 11.5% for the month [2] Sales by Category - Comparable sales in June showed high-single-digit growth in fresh foods, mid- to high-single-digit growth in non-foods, and mid-single-digit growth in June foods and sundries [4] - The ancillary business sales declined by low-single digits, and gas sales decreased by mid- to high-single digits [5] Consumer Behavior Trends - High-income consumers are increasingly seeking value, with affluent members trading down to private-label goods and lower-cost proteins [6] Delivery Enhancements - Costco partnered with Instacart to enhance delivery options, including Priority Delivery for faster service and No-Rush Delivery for scheduled orders [7]

09 Jul 2025 01:30:31 ET │ 11 pages China Economics Reflation Now In Sight on Positive CPI and Supply Side Reform 2.0? CITI'S TAKE Year-on-year CPI reading turned to a positive surprise in June, and an earlier policy meeting hinted at potential Supply Side Reform 2.0. Is reflation in sight now for China? We tend to be cautious. The surprise in CPI could be smaller looking at the sequential change. Some small items such as jewelry could have contributed, while underlying momentum for the broader categories in ...

The event will kick off a two-day game series at Northwestern Medicine Field's Martin Stadium CHICAGO, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool brand, a proud sponsor of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), is transforming the Chicago River into a floating arena to welcome PLL back to the city for the first time since 2019. The Chicago Weekend two-day series will feature four games on July 11-12 at Northwestern Medicine Field.Lacrosse fans are encouraged to celebrate the league's return in the first-ever profe ...

Core Insights - The cybersecurity landscape is rapidly evolving, with network security being a critical priority for enterprises globally. Fortinet (FTNT) and Check Point Software Technologies (CHKP) are leading providers of network security solutions, offering comprehensive platforms to protect organizations from sophisticated threats [1][2] Group 1: Company Performance - Fortinet is experiencing exceptional growth momentum across multiple business segments, with a unified SASE strategy gaining traction, leading to security service building growth exceeding 110% and unified SASE representing 25% of total business [4][6] - Fortinet's Quantum Force appliances have driven product revenues up by 14% year over year, with 73% of large enterprise customers adopting their SD-WAN solution, facilitating FortiSASE expansion [5] - Check Point's Quantum Force appliances show strong demand, with revenues exceeding the midpoint of guidance ranges, and the Infinity platform demonstrating over 15% of total revenues with strong double-digit growth year over year [8][11] Group 2: Leadership and Strategy - Fortinet is well-positioned for growth with a record free cash flow of $783 million and a margin of 51%, benefiting from an anticipated firewall refresh cycle in the second half of 2025 [6] - Check Point is under new CEO Nadav Zafrir's leadership, implementing a transformation strategy focused on growth and enhancing go-to-market capabilities, including a strategic partnership with Wiz for cloud security [9][10] Group 3: Financial Metrics and Valuation - Fortinet's Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $2.48 per share, indicating a growth of 4.64% year-over-year, while Check Point's estimate is $9.91 per share, reflecting an 8.91% growth year-over-year [7][12] - Fortinet's shares gained 11.6% in three months, outperforming Check Point's 5.8% return, with both stocks trading at premium valuations; Fortinet has a price-to-sales ratio of 11.5x compared to CHKP's 8.91x [13][15] Group 4: Investment Outlook - Fortinet is identified as the superior investment choice for 2025 due to stronger revenue growth momentum, a better-positioned SASE strategy, and clear catalysts like the firewall refresh cycle [19] - Check Point offers stability and transformation potential but faces execution risks and a slower growth trajectory, suggesting investors may consider holding existing positions or waiting for more attractive entry points [19]

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool's stock has seen a significant increase of over 14% in the past week, driven by positive analyst recommendations and media endorsements [1]. Group 1: Analyst Recommendations - David MacGregor from Longbow Research upgraded Whirlpool's stock rating from neutral to buy, setting a price target of $145 per share, which is 32% above the recent closing price [4]. Group 2: Media Endorsements - CNBC's Jim Cramer expressed strong bullish sentiments about Whirlpool on multiple occasions, highlighting the company's unique position as a mass producer of appliances in the U.S. and its potential benefits from tariffs on imported steel. He believes the stock could reach $120 quickly due to its low forward P/E ratio of under 10 [5]. Group 3: Market Context - Despite the positive outlook, there are concerns regarding the sustainability of the tariff regime and the need for organic improvements in Whirlpool's business, as the company operates in a competitive sector [6].

Core Viewpoint - Raytech Holding Limited has announced a public offering of 25,985,000 ordinary shares priced at $0.20 per share, aiming to raise approximately $5.197 million before expenses [1][2]. Company Overview - Raytech Holding Limited is a Hong Kong-based company with over 10 years of experience in the personal care electrical appliance industry, specializing in design, sourcing, and wholesale for international brand owners [5]. - The company offers a diverse range of personal care electrical appliances, including hair styling tools, trimmers, eyelash curlers, neck care, and nail care products [5]. Offering Details - The public offering is expected to close on July 1, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions [2]. - R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc. is acting as the sole placement agent for the offering, while Loeb & Loeb LLP and Zarif Law Group P.C. are providing legal counsel [2][3]. - The offering is conducted under a registration statement on Form F-1, which was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2025 [3].

Group 1 - The 27th China Building Expo (Guangzhou) will open on July 8, organized by the China Foreign Trade Center Group and the China Architectural Decoration Association, covering an area of 300,000 square meters with nearly 2,000 exhibitors and expected to attract over 200,000 domestic and international professional visitors [2] - This year's expo features three main sections: indoor space, doors and windows outdoor, and material intelligence manufacturing, with a new smart lighting exhibition area and the introduction of smart home products, including smart appliances and robots [3] - The expo will host over 70 events discussing opportunities in architectural design and AI, including a high-end residential design trend exhibition for 2025 and a forum on "Building Reconstruction: AI Towards New" featuring experts from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology [4]

Core Insights - Fortinet's FortiGate platform is central to its secure networking strategy, driving hardware adoption and facilitating expansion into other solutions [1][10] - The launch of the FortiGate 700G series enhances performance and energy efficiency, appealing to mid-sized businesses and distributed enterprises [3][10] - Fortinet's product revenues grew 12% year-over-year in Q1 2025, with FortiGate hardware being the primary growth driver [4] Product and Market Performance - FortiGate firewalls are often the first product for customers, leading to increased integration of Fortinet's other offerings [2][10] - In Q1 2025, FortiGate hardware outpaced overall product growth, expanding in the mid-teens [4] - The company estimates product revenues for 2025 to reach $2.14 billion, indicating a 12.3% year-over-year growth [4] Competitive Landscape - Fortinet faces stiff competition from Palo Alto Networks and Check Point Software, both of which are experiencing strong adoption of their firewall capabilities [5] - Palo Alto Networks reported a 20% year-over-year growth in Software Firewall ARR, driven by public cloud deployments [6] - Check Point Software saw a 14% year-over-year rise in product and license revenues, with expectations of continued momentum through 2026 [7] Stock Performance and Valuation - Fortinet's shares have risen 11.1% year-to-date, underperforming the Zacks Security industry's growth of 23.4% [8] - The stock is currently trading at a Price/Book ratio of 40.17X, compared to the industry's 24.88X, indicating a lower valuation score [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 2025 earnings is 59 cents per share, reflecting a 3.51% year-over-year growth [15]

Core Insights - The Canton Fair, established in 1957, is a significant biannual event that showcases the internationalization of China's trade [2][3] - The current edition has attracted nearly 43,000 exhibitors and around 250,000 visitors, covering an area of 1.55 million square meters [3][4] Global Reach and Promotion - The fair has expanded its international reach through promotional events in various cities, including Vienna, Budapest, and Amsterdam, as well as in African countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya [5] - The Canton Fair has been instrumental in helping Chinese brands, such as BYD, Huawei, Haier, and Lenovo, gain global recognition and market penetration [6] Opportunities for Businesses - The fair provides a platform for both large and small businesses to network and expand beyond major Chinese cities [8] - It accommodates a diverse range of sectors, with the spring fair focusing on electronics and home appliances, while the autumn fair emphasizes textiles and consumer goods [9] Changing Business Mindset - The participation of big companies aims to enhance international exposure and experience, reflecting a shift in the business mindset of Chinese exhibitors towards more proactive engagement in international trade [11][12] - The rise of Chinese fashion brands and designers illustrates the evolving outlook of Chinese enterprises in the global market [13] Cultural Appeal - The fair is complemented by the cultural attractions of Guangzhou, enhancing the overall experience for visitors [14] Future Prospects - The latest edition of the Canton Fair is expected to be larger and more impactful, aligning with the growing importance of international trading opportunities [15][16]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation is experiencing significant growth in its e-commerce segment, which is becoming a key growth driver alongside its traditional brick-and-mortar operations [1] E-commerce Performance - In Q3 of fiscal 2025, e-commerce comparable sales increased by 15.7%, surpassing the overall comparable sales growth of 8% [2][9] - Site traffic rose by 20%, and average order value increased by 3%, indicating higher customer engagement and spending [2] Strategic Initiatives - The introduction of a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) option through Affirm is aimed at enhancing conversions for high-ticket items like appliances and electronics [3] - Costco Logistics deliveries saw a 31% year-over-year increase, reflecting improved fulfillment capabilities, especially for bulky items [3][9] - Personalization efforts, including tailored product recommendations and targeted promotions, are yielding positive results [4] Market Positioning - Although e-commerce currently represents a small portion of total sales, its rapid growth suggests it could become a more significant contributor to Costco's business model [5] - Comparatively, Walmart reported a 22% year-over-year increase in global e-commerce sales, while Sprouts Farmers Market achieved 28% growth in e-commerce sales [6][7] Financial Performance - Costco's stock has performed well, with a 15.5% increase over the past year, outpacing the industry growth of 5.6% [8] - The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio for Costco is 50.11, higher than the industry average of 32.13 [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates year-over-year growth of 8.1% in sales and 12% in earnings per share for the current financial year [11]