For Immediate ReleasesChicago, IL – December 16, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include AB SKF (SKFRY) , Dillards (DDS) and Dycom Industries (DY) .Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:Finally! U.S. Federal Jobs Data: Global Week AheadWhat is happening in the Global Week Ahead?The U.S. Federal g ...

Key Takeaways Non-Farm Payrolls Expected Tuesday MorningLook to Bank of Japan Rate Hikes Next YearECB Meets Later This Week, Should Keep Rates UnchangedWhat is happening in the Global Week Ahead?The U.S. Federal government releases overdue labor market and retail sales dataEuropean Union leaders meet for one last push, to secure a deal and fund Ukraine, with frozen Russian cashMeanwhile, central banks in the Euro Area, Japan, Britain, Norway and Sweden hold their last policy meetings of 2025Next are Reuters ...

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. is recognized as one of the best slow growth stocks to invest in, with DA Davidson raising its price target to $130 from $117 while maintaining a Buy rating following strong third-quarter results [1] - The company's third-quarter performance included a 4.5% growth in comparable sales in the US (excluding fuel), 3.8% growth at Sam's Club, and an 11% increase in overseas sales in constant currency [1] - Truist Securities also increased its price target for Walmart to $119, highlighting robust margins and significant growth in alternative revenue sources, particularly advertising, which saw a 53% overall increase and a 33% rise in the US [3] Company Performance - Walmart is the world's largest brick-and-mortar retailer, operating over 100,000 stores across various sectors, including Walmart US, Walmart International, and Sam's Club, offering a diverse range of products [4] - Despite some deceleration in spending among low-end consumers, Walmart's consistent results suggest that its convenience strategy is effectively attracting higher-income customers [2]

Core Insights - Williams-Sonoma's stock closed at $198.96, reflecting a 2.56% increase, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.37% [1] - The company is expected to report an EPS of $1.85, a decrease of 5.61% year-over-year, with revenue projected at $1.85 billion, an increase of 2.92% [2] - For the full year, earnings are projected at $8.54 per share and revenue at $7.82 billion, indicating a decline of 2.84% in earnings and an increase of 3.85% in revenue compared to the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Williams-Sonoma reflect changing business dynamics, with upward revisions indicating positive sentiment towards the company's profitability [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which evaluates these estimate changes, currently ranks Williams-Sonoma at 3 (Hold), with a recent 0.14% decrease in the EPS estimate [5][6] Valuation Metrics - Williams-Sonoma has a Forward P/E ratio of 22.71, slightly above the industry average of 22.68, and a PEG ratio of 3.13, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 2.02 [7] Industry Context - The Retail - Home Furnishings industry, part of the Retail-Wholesale sector, ranks 174 in the Zacks Industry Rank, placing it in the bottom 30% of over 250 industries [8]

Core Insights - Ralph Lauren Corporation is a global leader in premium lifestyle products, including apparel, accessories, and home furnishings, known for its iconic style and quality [1] Financial Performance - Ralph Lauren reported an EPS of $3.77 in its latest earnings report, exceeding the consensus estimate of $3.48, and is expected to achieve earnings of $14.96 per share for the current fiscal year, reflecting a 21.33% increase in EPS [4][6] - The company surpassed the consensus revenue estimate by 4.16%, with projected revenues of $7.56 billion, indicating a 6.79% rise in revenues for the current fiscal year [4] Stock Performance - Evercore ISI maintained an "Outperform" rating for Ralph Lauren, raising its price target from $340 to $375, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance [2][6] - Ralph Lauren's stock has increased by 8.2% over the past month and 44.2% since the start of the year, outperforming the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector's 9.2% gain and the Zacks Textile - Apparel industry's 20.1% return [3][6] - Despite a recent decrease of approximately 1.53% in its stock price to $314.76, the company's strong fundamentals and market position continue to attract investor interest, with a market capitalization of approximately $19.07 billion [5]

Core Insights - Ralph Lauren Corporation is a global leader in premium lifestyle products with a market cap of $20.4 billion and is set to release its Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings soon [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts expect Ralph Lauren to report earnings of $3.45 per share for Q2 fiscal 2026, a growth of 35.8% from $2.54 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the current fiscal year, the forecasted EPS is $15, indicating a 21.7% increase from $12.33 in fiscal 2025, with an expected growth to $16.35 in fiscal 2027 [3] Stock Performance - Ralph Lauren's shares have increased by 71.1% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 16.2% rise and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund's 22.8% return [4] Growth Drivers - The company's share price is driven by stronger-than-anticipated revenue and profit growth, benefiting from robust international demand, particularly in Europe and Asia, and a strategic focus on premium positioning and digital/direct-to-consumer channels [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus view on Ralph Lauren is largely bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating from 15 out of 20 analysts, while the mean price target of $346.22 represents a 3% premium to current price levels [6]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of teaching children about investing and financial literacy, highlighting that early education can lead to better money management and long-term wealth accumulation [2][3][4] Investment Education - Early exposure to investing helps children understand market concepts such as diversification, risk, and reward, which can prevent common financial mistakes [3][4] - The power of compound interest is a significant argument for starting investment education early, as it can lead to greater wealth accumulation by retirement [4] Stock Selection Methodology - The methodology for selecting the best stocks involved filtering stocks based on dividend growth above 10% and total returns exceeding 500% over the past five years, with final rankings based on hedge fund holdings as of Q2 2025 [8][9] Company Highlights - **Tecnoglass Inc. (NYSE:TGLS)**: Demonstrated strong financial performance, reaffirmed full-year guidance, and engaged in share repurchase programs, indicating confidence in its growth potential [10][11] - **Dillard's, Inc. (NYSE:DDS)**: Reported steady Q2 results with net income of $72.8 million, a 1% increase in total retail sales, and a focus on store remodels and partnerships to enhance customer engagement [13][15] - **Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW)**: Achieved revenue growth of 11.5% year-over-year, expanded its store footprint, and maintained a focus on experiential retail despite macroeconomic pressures [16][19] - **IDT Corporation (NYSE:IDT)**: Focused on expanding its fintech and communications solutions, announced a quarterly dividend, and projected significant revenue growth by 2028 [20][23]

Core Viewpoint - Target's CEO Brian Cornell has indicated that consumers can expect higher prices for imported produce from Mexico due to new tariffs, which will impact the company's first-quarter profits as spending declines [1][2][4]. Price Impact - The company relies significantly on Mexican produce, especially during winter months, and anticipates price increases on items like avocados and strawberries as soon as this week due to a 25% tariff [3][4]. - Cornell noted that while the company will attempt to protect pricing, consumers will likely see price increases shortly [4]. Financial Performance - Target reported a 1.5% rise in comparable sales for the holiday quarter, exceeding analyst expectations of 1.3%, although earnings per share fell 19.3% to $2.41, still surpassing Wall Street's forecast of $2.27 [7]. - For the full year through January 2026, Target projects flat comparable sales, below analysts' average expectation of 1.86% growth [9]. Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - There has been a 6.1% drop in foot traffic at Target stores from late January to late February, which some analysts attribute to the company's recent decision to end its diversity and inclusion initiatives [15]. - The retailer has noted shifts in consumer behavior affecting financial results, with non-essential categories like home furnishings and electronics already experiencing weakened demand [6]. Economic Outlook - Cornell expressed that the year ahead would be challenging for the retailer due to rising duties and economic uncertainty, which have already begun to affect sales [2][13]. - The company's annual forecast does not fully account for the impact of tariffs, and there is ongoing monitoring of trends to remain cautious in expectations for the year [13].