E-commerce giant Amazon is trying to gain an edge over its big-box rivals, with plans to open its largest-ever retail store on a 35-acre plot sitting in the Chicago suburbs.  The company is aiming to build a sprawling 230,000-square-foot property in Orland Park, which could open as soon as next year following proper approvals.Half of the store would sell a combination of groceries, general merchandise and prepared food, while the other half would be used for fulfillment of online and in-store orders. COSTCO ...

Group 1: Berkshire Hathaway and Kraft Heinz - Berkshire Hathaway may sell its 27.5% stake in Kraft Heinz, potentially ending a decade-long investment [5] - Kraft Heinz disclosed that Berkshire may offer to sell 325,442,152 shares, with the stock down nearly 4% in premarket trading [5] - The merger of Kraft and Heinz in 2015, orchestrated by Buffett and 3G Capital, has not performed as expected, leading to a $3.76 billion write-down on Berkshire's stake [6] Group 2: Kraft Heinz Corporate Strategy - Kraft Heinz's board approved a plan to separate the company into two independent, publicly traded entities through a tax-free spin-off, aimed at simplifying operations and improving performance [7] Group 3: Amazon's Retail Expansion - Amazon plans to open its largest retail store in Orland Park, Chicago, covering approximately 230,000 square feet, offering groceries and general merchandise [9] - The project will not receive financial incentives from Orland Park but is expected to generate significant sales and property tax revenue, creating around 200 construction jobs and 500 permanent positions [10] Group 4: Market Overview - Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq futures are in the green, while crude oil is down 0.6% at $59 per barrel [13] - Bitcoin is up 1.1% at $89,000, and gold has increased by 2% to $4,862 [13]

Core Viewpoint - Albertsons Companies, Inc. is facing challenges in its sales growth and earnings outlook due to external factors such as food disinflation and changes in government benefits, while also experiencing some strengths in its pharmacy business [2][3][5]. Financial Outlook - Albertsons forecasts identical sales growth for the full year to be between 2.2% and 2.5%, slightly lower than its previous guidance of 2.2% to 2.75% [6]. - The company expects adjusted net income to be in the range of $2.08 to $2.16 per Class A share, compared to the earlier range of $2.06 to $2.19 [6]. Market Conditions - Deutsche Bank has resumed coverage of Albertsons with a Hold rating and a price target of $18, indicating a mixed outlook for 2026 influenced by food disinflation and consumer behavior focused on value [2]. - The company noted that disruptions in SNAP benefits during Q3 reduced identical sales by approximately 10 to 20 basis points [4]. Business Performance - Despite challenges, Albertsons' pharmacy business showed strength due to demand for immunizations and GLP-1 therapies, which helped mitigate some negative impacts from SNAP disruptions [5]. - Consumer behavior is shifting towards cheaper products, particularly among low- and middle-income groups, as inflation remains high [5].

Core Insights - Amazon is planning to build a large-format store in Orland Park, Illinois, which will exceed the size of a Walmart Supercenter, indicating its ongoing experimentation with physical retail [1][2] Group 1: Store Details - The proposed store will be a one-story building with a total area of 229,000 square feet, offering a variety of products including groceries, household essentials, and general merchandise [2] - In comparison, Walmart's U.S. Supercenters typically average around 179,000 square feet, highlighting the scale of Amazon's new store [2] Group 2: Operational Features - The facility will include a limited warehouse component to support on-site operations and provide space for delivery drivers to pick up orders, enhancing operational efficiency [3] - An Amazon spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to testing new retail experiences aimed at improving customer convenience [3] Group 3: Strategic Moves - Amazon's push into physical retail follows its acquisition of Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion in 2017, marking a significant investment in expanding its brick-and-mortar presence [3] - The company has previously launched various retail formats, including bookstores and convenience marts, but has since scaled back or discontinued many of these initiatives [4] Group 4: Community Impact - The proposed store will replace a local restaurant, Petey's II, which closed in January 2024, and is strategically located near major highways and other national retail chains [5] - Some local residents have expressed concerns regarding potential traffic impacts resulting from the new development [5]

Core Viewpoint - Loblaw Companies Limited has successfully completed a private placement offering of $500 million in senior unsecured notes, which will be used to repay existing debt and for general corporate purposes [2][3]. Group 1: Offering Details - The offering consists of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes with an interest rate of 4.387% per annum, maturing on June 16, 2035 [2]. - The notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the company [3]. Group 2: Credit Ratings - Morningstar DBRS has assigned a credit rating of "BBB (high)" with a "Positive" trend to the notes, while Standard and Poor's Rating Services has rated them "BBB+" [4]. Group 3: Company Overview - Loblaw is Canada's leading food and pharmacy retailer, operating over 2,800 locations and employing more than 220,000 individuals [6]. - The company offers a wide range of products and services, including grocery, pharmacy, health services, apparel, and financial services, catering to the needs of Canadians [6][7].

Core Insights - TimesSquare Capital Management's "U.S. Focus Growth Strategy" reported a gross return of 4.00% and a net return of 3.78% for Q3 2025, outperforming the Russell Midcap Growth Index's return of 2.78% [1] Company Overview - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. operates warehouse clubs offering groceries, general merchandise, gasoline, and ancillary services, with a market capitalization of $12.17 billion as of December 11, 2025 [2] - The stock price of BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. closed at $92.37 per share, reflecting a one-month return of -2.13% and a 52-week loss of 5.30% [2] Performance Analysis - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. experienced a 14% drop in stock value, despite second-quarter profits and earnings exceeding consensus expectations; however, revenues and same-store sales fell short [3] - The company's Northeast and Mid-Atlantic stores were adversely affected by unseasonable weather, impacting general merchandise sales, although groceries and sundries performed well [3] - Membership rolls for BJ's Wholesale Club continue to grow, indicating potential for future revenue [3] Market Position - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. was held by 37 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, a decrease from 44 in the previous quarter, suggesting a decline in popularity among hedge funds [4] - While the company shows investment potential, certain AI stocks are perceived to offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Core Insights - The BBH Select Series - Mid Cap Fund experienced a total return decrease of -0.9% in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell Midcap Index, which returned 5.3% [1] - Year-to-date, the fund's total return is -1.8%, compared to the Index's 10.4% [1] - The third quarter saw a continuation of the low-quality rally that began late last year, gaining momentum throughout 2025 [1] Company Highlights - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) was highlighted as a key stock in the fund's Q3 2025 investor letter [2] - BJ's Wholesale Club's one-month return was -4.66%, and its shares declined by 9.05% over the past 52 weeks [2] - As of December 10, 2025, BJ's stock closed at $89.61 per share, with a market capitalization of $11.806 billion [2] Investment Actions - The fund initiated new positions in ITT Inc. and BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. during Q3 2025 [3] - The fund exited positions in Globant, Bruker, and Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. [3]

Company Overview - The Kroger Co. has a market cap of $43.9 billion and is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States, operating various store formats including combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price impact warehouses [1] - In addition to retail, Kroger manufactures and processes food products and sells fuel through its fuel centers, serving customers both in-store and online [2] Stock Performance - Kroger shares have pulled back 14.6% from their 52-week high of $74.90 and have declined 5.7% over the past three months, underperforming the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLP) 2.3% decrease during the same period [3] - On a year-to-date basis, Kroger stock is up 4.6%, outperforming XLP's marginal rise, and has increased 6.8% over the past 52 weeks, compared to XLP's 4.4% decrease [4] Financial Results - Kroger reported strong Q3 2025 results, including a 2.6% increase in identical sales without fuel and a 17% growth in eCommerce sales [5] - The company raised the lower end of its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a new range of $4.75 to $4.80, supported by an adjusted FIFO operating profit of $1.09 billion [5] - Management expects the eCommerce business to become profitable in 2026 and continues share repurchases under the remaining $2.5 billion authorization [5] Competitive Position - Rival Procter & Gamble has lagged behind Kroger, with shares decreasing 16.1% over the past 52 weeks and 12.4% on a year-to-date basis [6] - Kroger stock holds a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 21 analysts, with a mean price target of $77.50, representing a premium of 17.1% to current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. operates membership-only warehouse clubs across the eastern United States, providing a diverse range of fresh food and general merchandise [1] Company Overview - BJ's Wholesale Club is a membership-based retail chain that focuses on offering factory-style shopping experiences [1] - The company is positioned in the small- to mid-cap segment, which is often overlooked by many investors, but it also provides insights into larger-cap companies for a broader market perspective [1] Investment Position - The analyst has a beneficial long position in BJ's shares, indicating confidence in the company's future performance [2]

Company Overview - The Kroger Co. operates as one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States with a market cap of $42 billion, offering various store formats and products both in-store and online [1] Stock Performance - Kroger's shares have underperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks, rising 12.1% compared to the S&P 500 Index's 19.6% increase, and are up 3.7% year-to-date versus the S&P 500's 16.5% gain [2] - However, Kroger's shares have outperformed the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund, which declined by 5.6% over the past 52 weeks and 3.7% year-to-date [3] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Kroger reported revenue of $33.94 billion, which was weaker than expected, but its adjusted EPS of $1.04 beat estimates. The company raised its full-year sales forecast to 2.7% - 3.4% and adjusted EPS outlook to $4.70 - $4.80, supported by strong identical sales growth of 3.4% [4] - For the fiscal year ending in January 2026, analysts expect Kroger's adjusted EPS to grow 7.2% year-over-year to $4.79, with a strong earnings surprise history [5] Analyst Ratings - Among the 21 analysts covering Kroger, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of 11 "Strong Buy" ratings and 10 "Holds" [5] - Guggenheim analyst John Heinbockel maintained a "Buy" rating on Kroger with a price target of $78, while the mean price target of $77.60 suggests a 22.3% premium to current price levels, and the Street-high price target of $85 indicates a nearly 34% potential upside [6]