Core Insights - Inflation remained elevated in January, with consumer price growth exceeding the Federal Reserve's target rate, raising affordability concerns among policymakers [1] CPI Data Summary - The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% month-over-month in January and 2.4% year-over-year, down from 2.7% in December [2] - Core prices, excluding volatile items like gasoline and food, increased by 0.3% from the previous month and slowed to 2.5% year-over-year from 2.6% last month, aligning with economists' expectations [3] Data Collection Impact - Inflation data from December 2025 to April 2026 will be influenced by data collection interruptions due to a 43-day government shutdown [4] - The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) utilized a carry-forward methodology to compensate for missing data, which may introduce a downward bias in inflation data until fresh data is available in spring [5] Cost of Living Breakdown - High inflation has significantly impacted U.S. households, particularly lower-income Americans who spend a larger portion of their income on necessities [6] - Food prices increased by 0.2% in January and are 2.9% higher year-over-year, with the food at home index up 2.1% and food away from home index up 4% [7] - Energy prices decreased by 1.5% month-over-month and are down 0.1% year-over-year, with gasoline prices falling 3.2% for the month and 7.5% year-over-year [9] - Housing prices rose 0.2% in January and are up 3% annually, with the shelter index being the largest contributor to the overall CPI increase [10] Sector-Specific Price Changes - Transportation services costs increased by 1.4% in January and are 1.3% higher than a year ago, with airline fares jumping 6.5% for the month [11] - Medical care costs rose by 0.3% in January and have increased by 3.9% over the past year [11]

Company Overview - Vipshop Holdings Limited is a leading online discount retailer in China, focusing on a diversified product portfolio and robust logistics infrastructure to serve millions of customers nationwide [6] - The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model, generating revenue from product sales, logistics, and value-added services [7] - Vipshop targets value-conscious consumers seeking branded merchandise at discounted prices, emphasizing customer loyalty and brand partnerships [8] Financial Performance - As of February 11, 2026, Vipshop's stock price was $17.56, with a market capitalization of $8.82 billion [4] - The company reported a total revenue of $15.46 billion and a net income of $1.03 billion for the trailing twelve months [4] - In the third quarter, Vipshop achieved revenue of RMB21.4 billion (approximately $3.0 billion), reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3.4%, while net income attributable to shareholders rose by 16.8% to RMB1.2 billion (approximately $171.5 million) [9] Recent Developments - North of South Capital sold 1,093,316 shares of Vipshop, valued at an estimated $21.04 million, during the fourth quarter, reducing its stake to 2,262,683 shares worth $40.03 million at quarter's end [2][3] - Following the sale, Vipshop now represents 3.6% of North of South Capital's reportable assets, down from 6.3% in the previous quarter [3] - Despite the sale, Vipshop's performance has been strong, with shares up 20.9% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by 6.55 percentage points [3] Strategic Positioning - Vipshop's strategy includes deep supplier relationships and exclusive brand partnerships to secure attractive pricing [6] - The company is positioned as a mid-tier player in the China consumer market, with a focus on large emerging market and Asia tech names in its investment portfolio [10] - Long-term investors may view the recent stake reduction as tactical, as the business continues to generate profits and cash, with guidance for up to 5% revenue growth in the next quarter [11]

McDonald’s said that its quest to make its food more affordable is working. https://t.co/gyygEGmwDs ...

The cook reflects on finding joy in food again, her obsession with OXO pop-top containers—and the crêpe recipe that lifted her from a rut https://t.co/iAFAdndwx0 ...

Core Viewpoint - Union Pacific Railroad Company (UNP) is set to report its Q4 fiscal 2025 earnings, with analysts projecting a slight increase in earnings per share (EPS) compared to the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance - Analysts expect UNP to report a profit of $2.92 per share on a diluted basis for Q4 fiscal 2025, a marginal increase from $2.91 per share in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the current fiscal year, EPS is projected to be $11.74, reflecting a 5.9% increase from $11.09 in fiscal 2024 [3]. - EPS is anticipated to rise by approximately 7.2% year over year to $12.58 in fiscal 2026 [3]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, UNP stock has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, which gained 16.9%, with UNP shares only increasing by 1.2% during the same period [4]. - Following the release of its third-quarter results, UNP stock dipped 2.3% despite total revenue rising 2.8% year over year to $5.9 billion, surpassing analyst estimates [5]. Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion among analysts is fairly bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Out of 23 analysts, 14 recommend a "Strong Buy," one a "Moderate Buy," and eight suggest a "Hold" [6]. - The average analyst price target for UNP is $266.91, indicating a potential upside of 15.1% from current levels [6].

Group 1: Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - Consumers are increasingly concerned about rising costs but continue to purchase necessities, favoring low-price retailers like Walmart over more upscale options like Target [1] - The current economic environment suggests a conservative investment approach, particularly in essential goods [1] Group 2: Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF Overview - Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF invests in companies within the consumer staples sector, with Walmart as its top holding, followed by Costco, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo [3] - The ETF tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Staples 25/50 Index, ensuring diversification by limiting individual stock holdings to a maximum of 25% and no more than 50% from stocks worth 5% of total assets [6] Group 3: Performance and Investment Strategy - Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF has a history of outperforming during challenging market conditions, with a low expense ratio of 0.09%, making it a cost-effective option for investors seeking stability [7] - Investing in consumer staples is attractive due to the essential nature of the products, which consumers continue to buy regardless of economic downturns [9] - The ETF provides a diversified approach to investing in consumer staples, reducing the need for investors to cherry-pick individual stocks [11]

Core Point - The costs associated with the "Unaffordability Five" — housing, food, healthcare, child care, and energy — have been increasing prior to the onset of Trump's trade war [1] Group 1: Rising Costs - Housing costs have been on the rise, contributing to overall unaffordability [1] - Food prices have also seen an upward trend, impacting household budgets [1] - Healthcare expenses have escalated, adding financial strain on families [1] - Child care costs have increased, making it difficult for parents to manage expenses [1] - Energy prices have risen, further exacerbating the affordability crisis [1]

Company Overview - PetMed Express, Inc. is an online pet pharmacy founded in 1996, offering a wide range of medications, supplements, food, and other pet health products [3] Allegations and Stock Performance - On June 10, 2025, PetMed announced a delay in releasing its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results, leading to a stock drop of $0.47, or 11.22%, closing at $3.72 on June 11, 2025 [4] - On July 1, 2025, PetMed stated it would not file its fiscal-year 2025 Annual Report on time due to an internal review of revenue recognition, resulting in a stock decline of $0.05 per share, or 1.51%, finishing at $3.27 [5] - On November 12, 2025, PetMed reported it could not timely submit its third-quarter 2025 Form 10-Q due to an Audit Committee investigation, causing a significant stock price drop of $0.94 per share, or 32.41%, closing at $1.96 on November 13, 2025 [6] Legal Investigation - Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating potential violations of federal securities laws involving PetMed Express, stemming from allegations of providing misleading business information to the investing public [1]

Campbell is defending the ingredients it uses in its products and placing an executive on temporary leave after he was allegedly caught on tape saying that the company made, in his words, highly processed food for poor people. >> We have for poor people, right. We have that's for poor people.Who buys our food. I don't buy animal products barely anymore. It's unhealthy.Now that I know what the inven bioengineered meat, I don't want to eat a a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer. That leaked audio pu ...

Core Insights - Wynn Resorts reported Q3 CY2025 revenue of $1.83 billion, exceeding Wall Street's expectations by 3.4% with an 8.3% year-on-year growth [7] - The company's non-GAAP profit of $0.86 per share fell short of analysts' consensus estimates by 25.4% [7] Company Overview - Wynn Resorts, founded by the former CEO of Mirage Resorts, is a global developer and operator of luxury hotels and casinos, recognized for its high-end properties and premium guest services [4] Revenue Growth - Over the last five years, Wynn Resorts achieved an annualized revenue growth of 18.3%, outperforming the average in the consumer discretionary sector [5] - However, the company's annualized revenue growth over the last two years slowed to 11.7%, indicating a potential decline in demand [6] Quarterly Performance - The adjusted EBITDA for Q3 was $486 million, which was below analyst estimates of $540.4 million, resulting in a margin of 26.5% [7] - The operating margin improved to 16.9%, up from 7.9% in the same quarter last year [7] Segment Performance - Revenue breakdown for Q3 shows Casino revenue contributing 29.6%, Hotel revenue 1.2%, and Dining and Entertainment revenue 10.5% [8] - Casino revenue averaged a year-on-year growth of 21% over the last two years, while Hotel and Dining and Entertainment revenues experienced declines of 5.2% and 1.4%, respectively [8] Future Outlook - Analysts project a revenue growth of 2.4% over the next 12 months, indicating a deceleration compared to the previous two years [9]