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Walmart

Walmart

$WMT
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161 stories mentioning WalmartUpdated 2d ago

Trading within a mixed consumer sector, where the Consumer Staples SPDR (XLP) slipped while the Consumer Discretionary SPDR (XLY) rose.

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Recent broker actions mentioned in FINWIRES coverage. Compiled from wire headlines; not investment advice.

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Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Rise Monday Afternoon

Consumer stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) rising 1.3% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) up 0.4%.In sector news, the US will raise tariffs on all cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel from Canada to 50%, effective Jan. 1, 2027, President Donald Trump said Monday on Truth Social.In corporate news, Paramount Skydance (PSKY) had its Monday meeting with California officials canceled after State Attorney General Rob Bonta accused the entertainment company of leaking details and negotiating in bad faith over its proposed multi-billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), The New York Times reported. Paramount shares were up 0.2%, and Warner Bros. added 0.6%.Walmart (WMT) is launching a new women's clothing, bag and accessories store brand this week aimed at younger shoppers, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Most of the items under the new Scenario line will cost less under $25, the report said. Walmart shares rose 1.4%.PDD (PDD) reported Q2 earnings ahead of Wall Street estimates on Monday even as operating expenses rose annually, though revenue fell short of expectations. PDD shares were down 1.1%.Expedia (EXPE) shares were rising 3.7%. Wedbush Securities said in a note Thursday the company delivered its fifth consecutive beat and raise in Q2, with full-year guidance raised on all three lines, as the business-to-consumer segment continues to see solid top-line improvement and stronger margin expansion.

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Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Higher Late Afternoon

Consumer stocks were rising late Friday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) increasing 0.6% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) adding 1.4%.In corporate news, Ross Stores (ROST) raised its full-year earnings outlook as the off-price apparel and home fashion chain reported stronger-than-expected fiscal Q2 results. Its shares gained 4.6%.BJ's Wholesale Club's (BJ) fiscal Q2 results came in ahead of Wall Street's estimates, prompting the warehouse club operator to lift its full-year earnings outlook. Its shares climbed 4.4%.Walmart (WMT) said Friday it will add Tap to Pay technology to payment options at some Walmart stores and Sam's Club locations starting Monday. The retail giant will roll out the feature to all US stores and clubs by the end of the year and to fuel stations by the middle of next year, it said. Separately, Walmart's mixed Q2 performance has raised questions around the trajectory of its core US business, though its new business model could drive growth in the long term, UBS said in a note. UBS trimmed its price target for Walmart to $130 from $141, but reiterated its buy rating. Walmart shares were down 0.3%.Wynn Resorts' (WYNN) Encore Boston Harbor casino and hotel face a possible labor action after two unions voted on Thursday to authorize a strike, news outlets reported. Wynn shares were up 1.1%.

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Update: Equities Rebound Intraday as Yields Rise
US Markets

Update: Equities Rebound Intraday as Yields Rise

(Updates with latest market prices and developments.)US equities rebounded intraday following Thursday's steep losses, but Wall Street was still headed for weekly declines amid rising bond yields.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.8% at 53,169.5 after midday Friday. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite each rose 0.5% to 7,678.1 and 26,187.6, respectively. Among sectors, materials paced the gainers, while utilities saw the steepest decline.The three indexes dropped to their lowest levels in more than two weeks on Thursday.The Dow was on track for its second consecutive weekly fall, while both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq headed toward their first weekly losses following three consecutive weekly advances.US Treasury yields were higher intraday, with the two-year yield increasing 4.5 basis points to 4.23% and the 10-year rate gaining 3.4 basis points to 4.73%. The 30-year rate was up 3.7 basis points at 5.27%."The past 24 hours saw renewed pressure in bond markets as the rally following the US Treasury's announcement on Wednesday that it would expand its buyback operations faded," Deutsche Bank said in a report.The Treasury Department earlier this week said it will at least double the size of its buybacks for longer-dated Treasuries, to $4 billion per operation.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday that his department could increase its planned buybacks to more than $4 billion per issue.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.4% at $87.18 a barrel, while Brent rose 0.9% to $94.59. The benchmarks were on track to log their second consecutive weekly gains.In economic news, US private-sector output growth hit a 52-month high amid a surge in services activity, while price pressures eased and employment rose sharply, S&P Global's (SPGI) flash purchasing managers' index showed.In company news, Ross Stores (ROST) jumped 5.8% intraday as the off-price apparel and home fashion chain lifted its full-year earnings outlook on the back of stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results.BJ's Wholesale Club's (BJ) fiscal second-quarter results came in ahead of Wall Street's estimates, prompting the warehouse club operator to lift its full-year earnings outlook. The stock was up 5% intraday.Walmart (WMT) was down 0.9%, the worst performer on the Dow, after a 9.2% slump in the previous session. The retailer's mixed second-quarter performance has raised questions around the trajectory of its core US business, though its new business model could drive growth in the long term, UBS said in a note.Spot gold advanced 2.4% to $4,622.94 per troy ounce, while silver climbed 2.6% to $70.70 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BJ$ROST$SPGI$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Rise Friday Afternoon

Consumer stocks were rising Friday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) increasing 0.5% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) adding 1.1%.In corporate news, Ross Stores (ROST) raised its full-year earnings outlook as the off-price apparel and home fashion chain reported stronger-than-expected fiscal Q2 results. Its shares gained 5.8%.BJ's Wholesale Club's (BJ) fiscal Q2 results came in ahead of Wall Street's estimates, prompting the warehouse club operator to lift its full-year earnings outlook. Its shares climbed 4.9%.Walmart (WMT) said Friday it will add Tap to Pay technology to payment options at some Walmart stores and Sam's Club locations starting Monday. The retail giant will roll out the feature to all US stores and clubs by the end of the year and to fuel stations by the middle of next year, it said. Separately, Walmart's mixed Q2 performance has raised questions around the trajectory of its core US business, though its new business model could drive growth in the long term, UBS said in a note. UBS trimmed its price target for Walmart to $130 from $141, but reiterated its buy rating. Walmart shares were down 0.9%.

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Wire

Top Midday Stories: Broadcom Said to be in Talks to Raise Up to $100 Billion for Chip Financing Deal; Nvidia Reportedly Eyes Investment in Cloverleaf

All three major US stock indexes were up in late-morning trading Friday despite long-dated Treasury yields continuing their ascent.In company news, Broadcom (AVGO) is in talks with a group of lenders to raise as much as $100 billion in debt for an AI chip financing deal, Bloomberg reported late Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The proposed financing could include a senior-secured tranche of $60 billion to $70 billion that Broadcom would partially guarantee, along with a roughly $30 billion junior debt tranche, the report said. Blackstone (BX) and Apollo Global Management (APO) are in talks with Broadcom to participate the deal, which is expected to help companies like Anthropic gain access to chips and other AI infrastructure, the report said. Broadcom shares were up 1.3% around midday.Nvidia (NVDA) is in advanced talks to invest in data center power developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure, with an announcement possible coming as soon as Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the deal. The AI giant is expected to invest several hundred million dollars, though the exact deal terms couldn't be learned, the report said, citing the people. Separately, Nvidia denied an early report by The Information that it intends to start shipping a language processing unit customized for Chinese customers by the end of the year. Also, the company and South Korean AI chip designer Rebellions are in preliminary talks about potential collaborations, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Lastly, Nvidia has agreed to pay $6 billion to license AI model-development software from Poolside and hire 109 workers involved in developing its Laguna AI model, The Information reported late Thursday, citing a Newcomer report. Nvidia shares were down 0.1%.Walmart (WMT) said Friday it will add Tap to Pay technology to payment options at some Walmart stores and Sams Club locations starting Monday. The retail giant will roll out the feature to all US stores and clubs by the end of the year and to fuel stations by the middle of next year, it said. Walmart shares were down 1.0%.Apple (AAPL) paid $17 billion in taxes to Ireland in 2025, 40% of its worldwide total and driven significantly by an EU court order in 2024 requring the tech giant to pay 13 billion euros ($15.19 billion) in back taxes, the Financial Times reported Friday, citing filings. The EU's top court ruled that Ireland had granted Apple "unlawful aid" that resulted in a tax rate of under 1%, the report said. Apple shares were nearly flat.Price: $368.75, Change: $+4.72, Percent Change: +1.30%

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Wire

Walmart's Diversified Growth Businesses Support Long-Term Investment Case, UBS Says

Walmart's (WMT) long-term investment case remains intact despite moderating US core growth, as its expanding e-commerce, advertising, marketplace, membership, Sam's Club and international businesses could help offset slower comparable sales growth and support continued earnings growth, UBS Securities said.The investment firm said in a Thursday note that Walmart's emerging growth businesses, including US e-commerce, advertising, marketplace, membership income and international sales, continue to show strong momentum and are becoming increasingly important to the retailer's earnings profile.The analyst also highlighted improving gross margins and incremental e-commerce margins, which supported Walmart's higher earnings outlook despite headwinds, while noting that increased rollbacks could boost traffic and sales, though the impact remains uncertain.Walmart raised its fiscal 2026 outlook for constant currency net sales growth to 4% to 5%, operating income growth to 7% to 8.5% and EPS to $2.80 to $2.87. UBS said the full-year EPS guidance could prove conservative as the retailer seeks to resume a pattern of beating and raising expectations.UBS maintained its buy rating on the stock and lowered its price target to $130 from $141.Walmart shares were down 1% in Friday trading.Price: $102.52, Change: $-1.08, Percent Change: -1.04%

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Wire

Walmart's Health, Wellness Weakness a Top-Line Issue, Profit Outlook Intact, RBC Says

Walmart's (WMT) softer US comparable sales and Q3 outlook are largely due to health and wellness headwinds and other timing factors, and should not affect the company's profit outlook, RBC Capital Markets said.US comparable store sales growth came in at 2.6% for Q2, compared with the consensus estimate of 3.7%, driven by headwinds in health and wellness, analysts said.Excluding health and wellness, the company noted that core comparable sales have remained consistently in the 3% to 4% range and expects the trend to continue in the second half. The weakness is negative for revenue but neutral to profit, the analysts added.Walmart increased its revenue, margin and adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2027 despite more than $2 billion of incremental fuel-related costs. The analysts said the raised outlook reflects greater benefits from price investments.The timing shift of Flipkart's Big Billion Days from Q3 into Q4 creates a roughly 100-basis-point headwind to Q3 constant-currency net sales growth, but reverses as a roughly 100-basis-point tailwind in Q4. The investment firm said Walmart's recent stock price weakness is a buying opportunity.RBC maintained its outperform rating on the stock and cut its price target to $131 from $137.Price: $102.49, Change: $-1.11, Percent Change: -1.07%

$WMT
Dollar Tree Likely To Lift Full-Year Outlook, Oppenheimer Says
US Markets

Dollar Tree Likely To Lift Full-Year Outlook, Oppenheimer Says

Dollar Tree (DLTR) is likely to raise its full-year outlook, with management expected to strike an upbeat tone on the business, Oppenheimer said in a Friday client note.Oppenheimer believes the discount retailer's senior management could tweak its fiscal 2026 guidance higher to reflect potential second-quarter upside and completed share repurchases. In May, Dollar Tree said it expected adjusted EPS to come in between $6.70 and $7.10 on comparable sales growth of 3% to 4% for the ongoing fiscal year.The brokerage estimates the company to record EPS of $7.05 in the year, up from its previous projection of $6.80, while continuing to expect same-store sales growth of 3.2%. Oppenheimer noted its forecast doesn't include any benefits related to tariff refunds, as it expects them to be fully reinvested back into the company in the form of lower prices or to mitigate inflationary headwinds from fuel.Dollar Tree is scheduled to release its latest financial results next week.The brokerage estimates Dollar Tree to record per-share earnings of $1.13 for the second quarter, up from its previous forecast of $1.08. In May, the retailer said it expected the metric to come in between $1 and $1.15, while the current average analyst estimate on FactSet is for $1.14."Investor sentiment has clearly improved toward the company's prospects, in our view," Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh wrote in the note. "As we look at the (second-quarter) fundamental setup, we expect another beat-and-raise delivery and upbeat tone from the management team."Oppenheimer expects Dollar Tree to record comparable sales growth of 3% and believes the market's forecast of 3.1% is "achievable," as it believes the retailer will continue to benefit from its initiatives and trade-in customers. The consensus on FactSet is for same-store sales to increase by 3.2%.Oppenheimer has a perform rating on Dollar Tree's stock. The retailer's shares were up 1.1% in Friday trading.Walmart (WMT) on Thursday reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results, although US comparable sales growth decelerated more than Wall Street projected amid a pharmacy-related headwind.Earlier in the week, Target (TGT) lifted its full-year outlook as tariff refunds helped double the retailer's fiscal second-quarter earnings year over year. Off-price retailer TJX (TJX) also raised its full-year earnings outlook.Price: $130.62, Change: $+2.17, Percent Change: +1.69%

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Walmart's Core US Business Growth Trajectory Under Scrutiny, UBS Says
US Markets

Walmart's Core US Business Growth Trajectory Under Scrutiny, UBS Says

Walmart's (WMT) mixed second-quarter performance has raised questions around the trajectory of its core US business, though its new business model could drive growth in the long term, UBS said in a note e-mailed Friday.Shares of Walmart tumbled 9.2% on Thursday, dragging down the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500, as its latest quarterly results showed US comparable sales growth decelerated more than Wall Street expected amid a pharmacy-related headwind. The retail giant issued a soft earnings outlook for the ongoing three-month period.The stock was down 1% intraday Friday, and has fallen about 8% so far this year.The moderation in the company's US comparable sales growth overshadowed its stronger-than-expected overall performance for the quarter."The key question was (whether) the recent trends represented a temporary slowdown driven by transitory factors such as the Maximum Fair Pricing headwind or the beginning of a more normalized growth profile for a business that has delivered several years of very strong performance," UBS analyst Michael Lasser wrote.If such slowdown represents the start of a "more mature phase" of growth for the US retail business, then the question is whether the company would be able to stimulate incremental demand by keeping prices low, UBS said."While Walmart has consistently demonstrated a willingness to reinvest profits to strengthen its value proposition and expand market share, the pace and magnitude of the resulting traffic and sales benefits remain an important area of debate," Lasser said.The bigger question is about Walmart's store-level productivity and the long-term profitability of its locations, according to UBS."As comparable sales growth moderates, some are assessing whether slower revenue growth could eventually pressure store-level profitability given the potential fixed-cost leverage inherent in a large-format retail model," Lasser said.UBS trimmed its price target for Walmart to $130 from $141, but reiterated its buy recommendation.The brokerage believes that Walmart's shift to digital commerce supports the long-term investment case for the stock.The retailer has evolved into "a more diversified platform supported by multiple, independently growing profit streams," Lasser said, as he cited the stellar performances of other business segments in the second quarter, including e-commerce and advertising.Price: $102.43, Change: $-1.16, Percent Change: -1.12%

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Wire

Update: Truist Securities Cuts Price Target on Walmart to $114 From $140, Keeps Buy Rating

(Updated to include Truist's commentary)Truist Securities lowered its price target on Walmart (WMT) to $114 from $140 following the retail giant's Q2 earnings.Although the quarter did not deliver the type of beat/raise investors have become accustomed to, the brokerage highlighted that the company continues to gain market share, is further widening price gaps and rapidly growing their higher-margin alternative revenue streams, such as advertising, membership, and marketplace, analysts Scot Ciccarelli and Joseph Civello wrote in a Thursday note.The brokerage lowered its price target, citing adjustments to estimates amid a rising cost environment.Walmart has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $131.03, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Price: $102.41, Change: $-1.18, Percent Change: -1.14%

$WMT
BJ's Wholesale Club Fiscal Second-Quarter Results Top Views; Raises Full-Year Earnings Outlook
US Markets

BJ's Wholesale Club Fiscal Second-Quarter Results Top Views; Raises Full-Year Earnings Outlook

BJ's Wholesale Club's (BJ) fiscal second-quarter results came in ahead of Wall Street's estimates, prompting the warehouse club operator to lift its full-year earnings outlook.The company on Friday reported adjusted earnings of $1.36 a share for the quarter ended Aug. 1, up from $1.14 the year before, exceeding the FactSet-polled consensus of $1.17. Overall revenue climbed 16% to $6.23 billion, topping the Street's view for $5.97 billion.Comparable club sales, excluding the impact of gasoline sales, increased 3.1% and were ahead of the market's forecast for a rise of 2.6%. The stock gained 4.7% in Friday trading."Our second-quarter results reflect strong execution and continued momentum in the business," Chief Financial Officer Laura Felice said in a statement. "We delivered solid profitability, grew membership fee income, and outperformed on gas -- all of which enabled us to raise our full year adjusted EPS guidance."BJ's now anticipates adjusted EPS in the range of $4.60 to $4.80 for fiscal 2026, up from its previous guidance of $4.40 to $4.60. Comparable club sales, excluding gasoline, are still pegged to increase by 2% to 3%. The current average analyst estimate is for non-GAAP EPS of $4.53 and same-store sales growth of 2.5%.Last week, Deutsche Bank said in an emailed client note that it expected BJ's to deliver a "modest" second-quarter beat, while the brokerage lifted its same-store sales estimate for the warehouse club operator to 2.6%."We delivered a strong second quarter, coming in ahead of our expectations across sales and profitability, with strong membership momentum," BJ's Chief Executive Bob Eddy said. "Our value proposition continued to resonate with members in our clubs and at our gas stations."Members continued to show up at the company's gas stations amid elevated prices during the quarter, Eddy said during an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript."Comp gallons were up double digits, accelerating from the strong results we saw in (the first quarter) and a clear signal of the share we continue to take," Eddy said on the call. "Strong volume growth, combined with favorable pullback from peak gas prices drove fuel profit dollars ahead of plan, which was a meaningful contributor to our overall results."US retail gasoline prices averaged $4.1092 per gallon on Friday, compared with $4.0776 a week ago and $4.0190 a month ago, according to data from AAA, a motoring and leisure travel membership organization that tracks fuel prices in the US.On Thursday, Walmart (WMT) reported fiscal second-quarter results, with US comparable sales growth slowing more than Wall Street expected amid a pharmacy-related headwind. Target (TGT) lifted its full-year outlook earlier in the week as tariff refunds helped double the retailer's fiscal second-quarter earnings year over year.Warehouse chain Costco Wholesale (COST) is scheduled to publish its latest financial results next month.Price: $95.29, Change: $+3.99, Percent Change: +4.37%

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Wire

BofA Securities Lowers Price Target on Walmart to $126 From $144, Maintains Buy Rating

Walmart (WMT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $131.89, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Price: $102.47, Change: $-1.13, Percent Change: -1.09%

$WMT
Wire

Walmart to Launch Tap to Pay Technology in All US Stores by End of This Year

Walmart (WMT) said Friday that it will add Tap to Pay technology to payment options at some Walmart stores and Sam's Club locations starting Monday and will roll it out to all US stores and clubs by the end of this year, and to fuel stations by the middle of next year.The retail giant said Tap to Pay will give customers a convenient way to pay at checkout using contactless technology.Price: $103.38, Change: $-0.21, Percent Change: -0.21%

$WMT
Stocks Rise Pre-Bell as Investors Eye Recovery Following Sharp Selloff
US Markets

Stocks Rise Pre-Bell as Investors Eye Recovery Following Sharp Selloff

The benchmark US stock measures were tracking in the green before the open Friday following a sharp selloff in the previous session, when Treasury yields climbed despite the government's efforts to ease pressure in the bond market.The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% each in premarket activity, while the Nasdaq added 0.6%. The Dow ended the previous session with its lowest close since July 31, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished at their lowest levels since Aug. 3.Treasury yields were trending higher in premarket action, with the two-year rate increasing 0.4 basis points to 4.19% and the 10-year rate gaining 0.2 basis points to 4.7%. The 30-year rate was up 0.7 basis points to 5.24%.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC in an interview on Thursday that his department could increase its planned buybacks of longer-dated Treasuries to more than $4 billion per issue."Part of it is signaling here and to show that we believe that the yields don't reflect the underlying fundamentals," Bessent said.The Treasury Department earlier this week said it will at least double the size of its buybacks for longer-dated Treasuries, to $4 billion per operation."The $4 billion size of the buybacks is vanishingly small relative to the size of the US treasury market but is a loud symbolic signal that the Treasury does not want higher yields," Saxo Bank said in a report Thursday. "Shaping the yield curve and buying treasuries is normally a policy area for the (Federal Reserve), so it sets up an interesting tension with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who will speak at next week's Fed symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming."West Texas Intermediate crude oil nudged up to $86.83 a barrel before the opening bell, while Brent dipped 0.1% to $93.70.Bessent also told CNBC on Thursday that the US is looking to implement the "toughest sanctions in history" against Iran. Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump threatened to launch "economic warfare" against Iran and financial consequences for countries that seek to provide any form of support to Tehran.Shares of Walmart (WMT) fell 0.2% pre-bell after the retail giant closed Thursday trading down 9.2% as fiscal second-quarter US comparable sales growth decelerated more than Wall Street expected, while the company issued a soft earnings outlook for the ongoing three-month period.Ross Stores (ROST) jumped nearly 8% as the off-price apparel and home fashion chain lifted its full-year earnings outlook on the back of stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results. Flowers Foods (FLO) fell 3.7% as the packaged bakery food producer cut its fiscal 2026 outlook amid a challenging operating environment.KE Holdings (BEKE), BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ) and Buckle (BKE) are scheduled to report their latest financial results before the bell, among others.Friday's economic calendar has the S&P Global's (SPGI) flash purchasing managers' index for August at 9:45 am ET, followed by the weekly Baker Hughes oil-and-gas rig count at 1 pm.Gold inclined 1.7% to $4,650 per troy ounce, while bitcoin climbed 7.1% to $77,811.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BEKE$BJ$BKE$FLO$ROST$WMT
Research

Gordon Haskett Downgrades Walmart to Accumulate From Buy, Adjusts Price Target to $110 From $135

Walmart (WMT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $131.89, according to analysts polled by FactSet.

$WMT
Ross Stores Lifts Earnings Outlook After Second-Quarter Beat
US Markets

Ross Stores Lifts Earnings Outlook After Second-Quarter Beat

Ross Stores (ROST) raised its full-year earnings outlook as the off-price apparel and home fashion chain reported stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results.The company now anticipates earnings between $8.61 and $8.77 per share for fiscal 2026, Chief Executive Jim Conroy said in a statement late Thursday. The retailer previously projected the metric to be in a range of $7.50 to $7.74, compared with the current consensus on FactSet for $7.83."We believe we are well positioned to capture additional market share and drive profitable growth over the long term," Conroy said.Ross Stores' EPS climbed to $2.66 for the three-month period ended Aug. 1 from $1.56 the year before, topping the average analyst estimate of $1.94. The results included an approximate $0.60 benefit from tariff refunds, the company said.Revenue advanced 13% to $6.26 billion, ahead of Wall Street's view for $6.16 billion. Comparable store sales increased 10% in the fiscal second quarter, driven by customer traffic. Analysts had modeled for 7.7% comparable sales growth.Ross Stores' stock was up 7% in after-hours trading. It's up 27% this year through market close Thursday.Earlier in the week, Tuist Securities said second-quarter card trends looked the strongest for Ross Stores among off-price retailers. "But comparisons for the company get meaningfully more difficult in (the third quarter)," the brokerage said in an emailed note.For the current quarter, Ross Stores expects EPS to be $1.75 to $1.83 and comparable sales to increase by 6% to 7%. The Street was looking for EPS of $1.75 and same store sales growth of 3.1%.The company forecast EPS between $2.17 and $2.26 for the fiscal fourth quarter and same store sales to climb 4% to 5%. Analysts expect $2.11 and 2.4%, respectively."Despite facing significantly more challenging year-over-year comparisons in the back half, we are raising our outlook for both the third and fourth quarters," Conroy said.Retail giant Walmart (WMT) issued a soft earnings outlook for the ongoing three-month period after its fiscal second-quarter US comparable sales growth decelerated more than the Street expected.Target (TGT) lifted its full-year outlook on Wednesday as tariff refunds helped double the retailer's fiscal second-quarter earnings year over year.On Wednesday, off-price retailer TJX (TJX) raised its full-year earnings outlook , though its third-quarter comparable sales guidance fell short of analysts' estimates. Burlington Stores (BURL) is scheduled to report its second-quarter results on Aug. 27.

$BURL$ROST$TGT$TJX$WMT
Update: Equities Drop to Lowest in More Than 2 Weeks as Yields Rise
US Markets

Update: Equities Drop to Lowest in More Than 2 Weeks as Yields Rise

(Updates with market moves at the end of the day, and other changes, if any.)US equity indexes dropped to their lowest levels in more than two weeks on Thursday as bond yields rose despite the Treasury Department's intervention in the bond market.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.3% to 52,759.21, its lowest close since July 31. The Nasdaq Composite shed 1% to 26,067.17, while the S&P 500 lost 0.9% to 7,641.16 -- both logging their lowest finish since Aug. 3.Except energy and real estate, all sectors ended in the red, led by consumer staples and healthcare.US Treasury yields were higher, with the 10-year yield up 4.9 basis points at 4.7% and the two-year yield rising 0.6 basis point to 4.19%. The 30-year rate advanced 5.5 basis points to 5.25%.The Treasury Department said Wednesday it will at least double the size of its buybacks for longer-dated Treasuries, to $4 billion per operation. The announcement eased pressure on long-term yields that day.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday that the buybacks could be worth more than $4 billion per issue."The $4 billion size of the buybacks is vanishingly small relative to the size of the US treasury market but is a loud symbolic signal that the Treasury does not want higher yields," Saxo Bank said in a report Thursday. "Shaping the yield curve and buying treasuries is normally a policy area for the (Federal Reserve), so it sets up an interesting tension with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who will speak at next week's Fed symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming."US government debt surpassed $40 trillion for the first time, multiple outlets reported Wednesday, citing Treasury Department data.West Texas Intermediate crude oil climbed 2.3% to $87.83 a barrel in Thursday late-afternoon trade, while Brent rose 2.1% to $93.51.US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened "economic warfare" against Iran, announcing economic consequences for countries that seek to provide any form of support to Tehran.A 60-day ceasefire between the two countries expired Monday.In corporate news, Walmart (WMT) shares slumped 9.2%, the worst performer on the Dow and the second-biggest fall on the S&P 500, after the retail giant issued third-quarter earnings guidance below analysts' expectations.Nordson (NDSN) jumped 8%, the best performer on the S&P 500, after lifting its fiscal 2026 outlook.Deere's (DE) shares advanced 6.9%, the third-biggest gain on the S&P 500, after the company raised the lower ends of its net income and cash flow guidance ranges, citing a strong fourth-quarter order book.Shares of Moderna (MRNA) slid about 24%, the steepest drop on the S&P 500, following a 177% jump at the close of the previous trading session. The drugmaker and Merck (MRK) announced positive topline results from a late-stage trial of an experimental skin cancer treatment on Wednesday.Spot gold ticked up 0.2% to $4,523 per troy ounce, while silver rose 3.8% to $69.09 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$DE$MRK$MRNA$NDSN$WMT
Asia Markets

US Equity Indexes Fall After Trump Warns of Severe Economic Actions Against Iran, Driving Up Oil Prices, Bond Yields

US equity indexes fell on Thursday as bond yields and oil prices surged after President Donald Trump warned of severe economic sanctions against Iran, and any country that offers a lifeline to the Middle-East nation.Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed Trump's warning in an X post, calling it a diversion from America's challenges of "unprecedented debt & surging interest costs."Bond yields continued to rise despite Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stating that the buyback of long-dated government debt, announced yesterday, could exceed $4 billion per operation, CNBC reported Thursday, citing an interview with the official.The Nasdaq Composite fell 1% to 26,067.1, and the S&P 500 declined 0.8% to 7,641.6. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 1.3% to 52,762.3. Energy and real estate sectors led the gainers, while consumer staples and health led the decliners.The yield on 30-year Treasuries rose 5.4 basis points to 5.248%, while the 10-year yield gained 4.9 basis points to 4.702%.Gold futures gained 0.9% to $4,587.4 per ounce, and silver futures rose 3.9% to $68.43.In economic news, the Conference Board's measure of leading indicators rose by 0.2% in July, a larger gain than the 0.1% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, and following a 0.1% decrease in June.The Conference Board highlighted that economic growth is expected to be driven by investments in AI, while consumer spending could slump due to the higher cost of living.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index rose to 47.4 in August, compared with 41.4 in July and an anticipated decrease to 24.1 according to a survey compiled by Bloomberg.According to the Labor Department, US initial jobless claims declined to 206,000 in the week ended Aug. 15 from the upwardly revised 212,000 level in the week earlier, and lower than 210,000 expected in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.US natural gas stocks rose by 16 billion cubic feet in the week ended Aug. 14, higher than the 15 billion gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 36 billion cubic feet in the week prior.The US West Texas Intermediate crude oil contract rose 2.7% to $88.15 per barrel.In company news, SpaceX (SPCX) shares fell 4% on Thursday after around 319 million early-investor shares of the company became eligible to trade today. The company also approached Cognition AI for a potential acquisition, but there are currently no active deal talks between them, Bloomberg reported late Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.Walmart (WMT) shares fell 9.1% on Thursday after its fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance missed analyst expectations. The company reported fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings of $0.81 per share, up from $0.68 a year earlier and above the FactSet estimate of $0.74. Revenue was $187.94 billion, up from $177.40 billion a year ago and above the FactSet estimate of $186.62 billion. For fiscal 2027, Walmart expects adjusted EPS of $2.80 to $2.87, up from $2.75 to $2.85 earlier, but below the FactSet estimate of $2.90.Moderna (MRNA) shares fell 23.5% following a 177% jump at the close of the previous trading session. The drugmaker and Merck (MRK) announced positive topline results from a late-stage trial of an experimental skin cancer treatment on Wednesday.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$MRK$MRNA$SPCX$WMT
Japan

US Equity Markets End Lower After Crude Oil, Bond Yields Rise Following Trump's New Iran Threats

US equity indexes ended lower Thursday after bond yields and oil prices rose following President Donald Trump's threat of extreme economic measures against Iran and any country that supports it.* Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed Trump's warning in an X post, describing it as a diversion from America's challenges of "unprecedented debt & surging interest costs."* US initial jobless claims fell to 206,000 in the week ended Aug. 15, from an upwardly revised 212,000 in the week earlier, and were lower than the 210,000 expected in an analyst survey by Bloomberg.* US natural gas stocks rose by 16 billion cubic feet in the week ended Aug. 14, higher than the 15 billion cf gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 36 billion cubic feet in the week prior.* September West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $2.32 to settle at $88.15 per barrel, while October Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $1.91 at $93.52.* Nordson (NDSN) shares were up about 8%, the best performer on the S&P 500, after the company raised its fiscal 2026 outlook.* Walmart's (WMT) stock was down about 9.2%, the worst performer on the Nasdaq and Dow, after fiscal Q2 US comparable sales growth decelerated more than Wall Street expected amid a pharmacy-related headwind, while the retail giant issued a soft earnings outlook for the ongoing quarter.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$NDSN$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Fall Late Afternoon

Consumer stocks declined late Thursday afternoon with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) falling 1.2% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) dropping 1.6%.In corporate news, Walmart's (WMT) fiscal Q2 US comparable sales growth decelerated more than Wall Street expected amid a pharmacy-related headwind, while the retail giant issued a soft earnings outlook for the current quarter. The shares fell 9.1%.Advance Auto Parts' (AAP) fiscal Q2 comparable sales unexpectedly declined amid weakness in the do-it-yourself channel, although the retailer lifted its full-year earnings outlook. The shares tumbled 26%.Campbell's (CPB) is heading into a difficult fiscal 2027 as weakening demand, pressure in snacks, higher costs and continued reinvestment weigh on earnings, though lower fuel costs and recent tariff developments may offer some relief, UBS Securities said. Campbell's shares eased 0.3%.Etsy (ETSY) is positioned for durable growth amid better-than-projected strategy execution and as third-party data continue to imply "conservative" guidance, BofA Securities said. Etsy shares rose 1.8%.

$AAP$CPB$ETSY$WMT

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