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Best Stocks To Buy Now? 3 Retail Stocks In Focus This Week

Could these retail stocks be good value buys at their current price points?
The post Best Stocks To Buy Now? 3 Retail Stocks In Focus This Week appeared first on Stock Market News, Quotes, Charts and Financial Information | StockMarket.com.

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3 Top Retail Stocks To Watch This Week Amid Earnings

As we begin another week of trading, retail stocks could be taking center stage in the stock market. Namely, some of the biggest names in the industry are set to report their second-quarter earnings this week. Take Home Depot (NYSE: HD) and Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) for example. Now, with a resurgence in coronavirus cases, investors could be considering how things will play out in the retail space. Specifically, should these conditions persist, some would argue consumer home improvement retail trends could gain momentum. So far, both HD stock and LOW stock are looking at gains of over 110% since their pandemic-era lows.

On top of that, department store giants like Macy’s (NYSE: M) and Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) could also be in focus. Aside from reporting their earnings on Thursday, the two companies have another thing in common. Both M stock and KSS stock are still trading below their pre-pandemic levels. Sure, the current updates on the pandemic could possibly put a damper on their brick-and-mortar services. However, the duo, like most names in the retail space, have better adapted their operations towards pandemic conditions. In fact, Macy’s is currently looking to achieve up to $10 billion in annual digital sales by 2023. This could indicate that the industry’s focus on e-commerce is more than just a reactionary play for the pandemic.

Overall, I can understand the current allure of retail stocks for investors now. On one hand, some could be looking to get in on the action this earnings week. On the other hand, others could see long-term growth potential in some of the top names in the market. With all this in mind, here are three retail stocks to note in the stock market today.

Best Retail Stocks To Buy [Or Sell] Today

Walmart Inc.

To begin with, we will be taking a look at Walmart. Seeing as it is the largest retailer in the world today, investors would be eyeing WMT stock now. For the uninitiated, the company primarily operates via its global network. The likes of which consist of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores. On top of that, Walmart also offers consumers a wide array of e-commerce services as well. In terms of scale, the company caters to approximately 220 million customers weekly.

While all of this is great, could WMT stock have more room to run as a result? If anything, the company does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. According to a recent post on its careers page, Walmart is hiring a “digital currency and cryptocurrency product lead”. In particular, the company is looking for someone who can provide leadership in identifying tech and customer trends. Given all the hype around digital currencies this year, this could be a timely move by Walmart. This would be the case as some of the biggest names in the fintech space are already adopting cryptocurrencies.

Not to mention, the company is also looking to invest almost $1 billion over the next five years towards employee training. The current plan includes paying for 100% of college tuition fees for Walmart associates, enabling them to upskill and earn degrees. Amidst the current labor market shortage, this would be a bold play to attract more potential employees. Overall, with Walmart set to report its earnings before tomorrow’s opening bell, will you be keeping an eye on WMT stock?

WMT stock
Source: TD Ameritrade TOS

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Costco Wholesale Corporation

Following that, we have the Costco Wholesale Corporation. In brief, the Washington-based company is a big-box store operator. For the most part, Costco manages a chain of membership-only big-box retail stores. The like of which offer consumers everyday groceries in large quantities. By Costco’s estimates, it currently boasts a network of over 800 warehouses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada among others. In theory, should coronavirus fears continue to rise among consumers, Costco’s offerings would be in demand.

Likewise, investors appear keen on COST stock as well. The company’s shares are up by over 25% in the past six months and continue trading towards newer heights. The real question now is, can it keep up its current momentum? For starters, we could take a look at its recent sales report. Earlier this month, the company reported solid sales figures for July. Notably, it raked in net sales of $176.3 billion for the month, marking a sizable 17.8% year-over-year increase. Specifically, Costco posted an impressive 48.9% increase in its e-commerce comparable sales over the same time as well.

While its retail peers report earnings this week, Costco has yet to reveal the date of its fiscal 2021 fourth-quarter fiscal. For some perspective, we could look towards its latest quarter fiscal posted back in May. In it, the company saw green across the board. It saw year-over-year increases of 45% in both net income and earnings per share for the quarter. Given all of this, would you consider COST stock a top buy in the stock market now?

top retail stocks (COST stock)
Source: TD Ameritrade TOS

[Read More] 4 Artificial Intelligence Stocks To Watch Right Now

Target Inc.  

Similar to our first entry, Target is also slated to report its latest quarter fiscal this week. With the company looking to do so before Wednesday’s opening bell, should investors be watching TGT stock now? Well, as another one of the major names in the retail space today, some would argue that Target would be a viable bet among retailers. In essence, the company caters to customers through its portfolio of over 1,900 stores nationwide.

Evidently, Target remains a go-to for consumers and investors alike this year. In its latest quarter fiscal posted back in May, the company posted stellar figures. Notably, it brought in a total revenue of $24.20 billion for the quarter, a 23% year-over-year increase. Moreover, Target also reported a massive year-over-year surge of 638% in net income. CEO Brian Cornell had this to say, “We’re confident in continued comp growth in the second quarter and through the remainder of the year, as well as a healthy full-year operating margin rate.” At the same time, TGT stock is looking at gains of over 180% since its pandemic era low.

By and large, Target appears to be kicking into high gear right now. So much so that the company even recently increased its quarterly dividend by a whopping 32%. CFO Michael Fiddelke cited “strong operating performance and cash generation” as core factors for this move. Would all of this make TGT stock worth investing in for you?

best retail stocks (TGT stock)
Source: TD Ameritrade TOS

The post Best Stocks To Buy Now? 3 Retail Stocks In Focus This Week appeared first on Stock Market News, Quotes, Charts and Financial Information | StockMarket.com.

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Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-March 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-March 2024
A brief excerpt: This 2-part overview for mid-March provides a snapshot of the current housing market.

I always like to star…

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Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-March 2024

A brief excerpt:
This 2-part overview for mid-March provides a snapshot of the current housing market.

I always like to start with inventory, since inventory usually tells the tale!
...
Here is a graph of new listing from Realtor.com’s February 2024 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report showing new listings were up 11.3% year-over-year in February. This is still well below pre-pandemic levels. From Realtor.com:

However, providing a boost to overall inventory, sellers turned out in higher numbers this February as newly listed homes were 11.3% above last year’s levels. This marked the fourth month of increasing listing activity after a 17-month streak of decline.
Note the seasonality for new listings. December and January are seasonally the weakest months of the year for new listings, followed by February and November. New listings will be up year-over-year in 2024, but we will have to wait for the March and April data to see how close new listings are to normal levels.

There are always people that need to sell due to the so-called 3 D’s: Death, Divorce, and Disease. Also, in certain times, some homeowners will need to sell due to unemployment or excessive debt (neither is much of an issue right now).

And there are homeowners who want to sell for a number of reasons: upsizing (more babies), downsizing, moving for a new job, or moving to a nicer home or location (move-up buyers). It is some of the “want to sell” group that has been locked in with the golden handcuffs over the last couple of years, since it is financially difficult to move when your current mortgage rate is around 3%, and your new mortgage rate will be in the 6 1/2% to 7% range.

But time is a factor for this “want to sell” group, and eventually some of them will take the plunge. That is probably why we are seeing more new listings now.
There is much more in the article.

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RFK Jr. Reveals Vice President Contenders

RFK Jr. Reveals Vice President Contenders

Authored by Jeff Louderback via The Epoch Times,

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former…

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RFK Jr. Reveals Vice President Contenders

Authored by Jeff Louderback via The Epoch Times,

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura are among the potential running mates for independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the New York Times reported on March 12.

Citing “two people familiar with the discussions,” the New York Times wrote that Mr. Kennedy “recently approached” Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Ventura about the vice president’s role, “and both have welcomed the overtures.”

Mr. Kennedy has talked to Mr. Rodgers “pretty continuously” over the last month, according to the story. The candidate has kept in touch with Mr. Ventura since the former governor introduced him at a February voter rally in Tucson, Arizona.

Stefanie Spear, who is the campaign press secretary, told The Epoch Times on March 12 that “Mr. Kennedy did share with the New York Times that he’s considering Aaron Rodgers and Jesse Ventura as running mates along with others on a short list.”

Ms. Spear added that Mr. Kennedy will name his running mate in the upcoming weeks.

Former Democrat presidential candidates Andrew Yang and Tulsi Gabbard declined the opportunity to join Mr. Kennedy’s ticket, according to the New York Times.

Mr. Kennedy has also reportedly talked to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) about becoming his running mate.

Last week, Mr. Kennedy endorsed Mr. Paul to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as the Senate Minority Leader after Mr. McConnell announced he would step down from the post at the end of the year.

CNN reported early on March 13 that Mr. Kennedy’s shortlist also includes motivational speaker Tony Robbins, Discovery Channel Host Mike Rowe, and civil rights attorney Tricia Lindsay. The Washington Post included the aforementioned names plus former Republican Massachusetts senator and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, Scott Brown.

In April 2023, Mr. Kennedy entered the Democrat presidential primary to challenge President Joe Biden for the party’s 2024 nomination. Claiming that the Democrat National Committee was “rigging the primary” to stop candidates from opposing President Biden, Mr. Kennedy said last October that he would run as an independent.

This year, Mr. Kennedy’s campaign has shifted its focus to ballot access. He currently has qualified for the ballot as an independent in New Hampshire, Utah, and Nevada.

Mr. Kennedy also qualified for the ballot in Hawaii under the “We the People” party.

In January, Mr. Kennedy’s campaign said it had filed paperwork in six states to create a political party. The move was made to get his name on the ballots with fewer voter signatures than those states require for candidates not affiliated with a party.

The “We the People” party was established in five states: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, and North Carolina. The “Texas Independent Party” was also formed.

A statement by Mr. Kennedy’s campaign reported that filing for political party status in the six states reduced the number of signatures required for him to gain ballot access by about 330,000.

Ballot access guidelines have created a sense of urgency to name a running mate. More than 20 states require independent and third-party candidates to have a vice presidential pick before collecting and submitting signatures.

Like Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Ventura is an outspoken critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and safety.

Mr. Ventura, 72, gained acclaim in the 1970s and 1980s as a professional wrestler known as Jesse “the Body” Ventura. He appeared in movies and television shows before entering the Minnesota gubernatorial race as a Reform Party headliner. He was a longshot candidate but prevailed and served one term.

Former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura in Washington on Oct. 4, 2013. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

In an interview on a YouTube podcast last December, Mr. Ventura was asked if he would accept an offer to run on Mr. Kennedy’s ticket.

“I would give it serious consideration. I won’t tell you yes or no. It will depend on my personal life. Would I want to commit myself at 72 for one year of hell (campaigning) and then four years (in office)?” Mr. Ventura said with a grin.

Mr. Rodgers, who spent his entire career as a quarterback for the Green Bay Packers before joining the New York Jets last season, remains under contract with the Jets. He has not publicly commented about joining Mr. Kennedy’s ticket, but the four-time NFL MVP endorsed him earlier this year and has stumped for him on podcasts.

The 40-year-old Rodgers is still under contract with the Jets after tearing his Achilles tendon in the 2023 season opener and being sidelined the rest of the year. The Jets are owned by Woody Johnson, a prominent donor to former President Donald Trump who served as U.S. Ambassador to Britain under President Trump.

Since the COVID-19 vaccine was introduced, Mr. Rodgers has been outspoken about health issues that can result from taking the shot. He told podcaster Joe Rogan that he has lost friends and sponsorship deals because of his decision not to get vaccinated.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets talks to reporters after training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, N.J., on July 26, 2023. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Mr. Rodgers challenged Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Dr. Anthony Fauci to a debate.

Mr. Rodgers referred to Mr. Kelce, who signed an endorsement deal with vaccine manufacturer Pfizer, as “Mr. Pfizer.”

Dr. Fauci served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022 and was chief medical adviser to the president from 2021 to 2022.

When Mr. Kennedy announces his running mate, it will mark another challenge met to help gain ballot access.

“In some states, the signature gathering window is not open. New York is one of those and is one of the most difficult with ballot access requirements,” Ms. Spear told The Epoch Times.

“We need our VP pick and our electors, and we have to gather 45,000 valid signatures. That means we will collect 72,000 since we have a 60 percent buffer in every state,” she added.

The window for gathering signatures in New York opens on April 16 and closes on May 28, Ms. Spear noted.

“Mississippi, North Carolina, and Oklahoma are the next three states we will most likely check off our list,” Ms. Spear added. “We are confident that Mr. Kennedy will be on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We have a strategist, petitioners, attorneys, and the overall momentum of the campaign.”

Tyler Durden Wed, 03/13/2024 - 15:45

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Pharma industry reputation remains steady at a ‘new normal’ after Covid, Harris Poll finds

The pharma industry is hanging on to reputation gains notched during the Covid-19 pandemic. Positive perception of the pharma industry is steady at 45%…

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The pharma industry is hanging on to reputation gains notched during the Covid-19 pandemic. Positive perception of the pharma industry is steady at 45% of US respondents in 2023, according to the latest Harris Poll data. That’s exactly the same as the previous year.

Pharma’s highest point was in February 2021 — as Covid vaccines began to roll out — with a 62% positive US perception, and helping the industry land at an average 55% positive sentiment at the end of the year in Harris’ 2021 annual assessment of industries. The pharma industry’s reputation hit its most recent low at 32% in 2019, but it had hovered around 30% for more than a decade prior.

Rob Jekielek

“Pharma has sustained a lot of the gains, now basically one and half times higher than pre-Covid,” said Harris Poll managing director Rob Jekielek. “There is a question mark around how sustained it will be, but right now it feels like a new normal.”

The Harris survey spans 11 global markets and covers 13 industries. Pharma perception is even better abroad, with an average 58% of respondents notching favorable sentiments in 2023, just a slight slip from 60% in each of the two previous years.

Pharma’s solid global reputation puts it in the middle of the pack among international industries, ranking higher than government at 37% positive, insurance at 48%, financial services at 51% and health insurance at 52%. Pharma ranks just behind automotive (62%), manufacturing (63%) and consumer products (63%), although it lags behind leading industries like tech at 75% positive in the first spot, followed by grocery at 67%.

The bright spotlight on the pharma industry during Covid vaccine and drug development boosted its reputation, but Jekielek said there’s maybe an argument to be made that pharma is continuing to develop innovative drugs outside that spotlight.

“When you look at pharma reputation during Covid, you have clear sense of a very dynamic industry working very quickly and getting therapies and products to market. If you’re looking at things happening now, you could argue that pharma still probably doesn’t get enough credit for its advances, for example, in oncology treatments,” he said.

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