Core Viewpoint - Macy's Inc. is facing stock price fluctuations and is under scrutiny ahead of its upcoming earnings report, with Citigroup adjusting its rating to Neutral and revising the price target to $19 [1][5]. Stock Performance - Macy's stock closed at $19.15, reflecting a 4.2% decline from the previous day, which is more significant than the broader market declines of the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq [2][5]. - Over the past month, Macy's shares have increased by 12.18%, outperforming the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 0.48% and the S&P 500's increase of 1.48% [2]. Earnings Expectations - The company is expected to report an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.14, representing a 450% decrease from the same quarter last year [3]. - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $4.59 billion, indicating a 3.25% decline from the previous year [3][5]. - Full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $2 per share [3]. Stock Metrics - Currently, Macy's stock is priced at $19.51, with a daily increase of 1.88% or $0.36, and has fluctuated between a low of $19 and a high of $19.68 during the trading day [4]. - Over the past year, the stock has reached a high of $21.25 and a low of $9.76, with a market capitalization of approximately $5.24 billion and a trading volume of 4,723,131 shares [4].

Group 1 - The consumer landscape this holiday season is diverse, with low-income consumers facing challenges while high-income earners and the wealthy continue to spend aggressively [1] - The spending patterns observed during this holiday season may significantly influence economic conditions leading into 2026 [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding different consumer segments rather than viewing "the consumer" as a single entity [1]

Market Performance - Major U.S. indexes showed mixed performance last week, with the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average declining by 2.7%, 1.4%, and 0.5% respectively [1] - Investors are shifting focus from high-valuation technology and AI stocks to more defensive sectors due to market volatility [1] Federal Reserve and Economic Data - The end of a 43-day government standoff has reduced political risks, but delays in key economic data releases have created uncertainty for the Federal Reserve and investors [2] - The Fed is balancing economic growth and inflation, with inflation remaining above the 2% target and a resilient labor market casting doubt on December rate cut expectations [2] Zacks Research Performance - Zacks Research has provided guidance that led to significant stock performance, with Macy's shares increasing by 14.9% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on September 18, outperforming the S&P 500's 2.2% increase [3][4] - Fresnillo plc also saw a 7.2% return since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on September 19, compared to the S&P 500's 1.8% increase [4] Zacks Model Portfolio Returns - A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks returned +8.64% in 2025 through September 1, outperforming the S&P 500's +7.60% [4] - The Zacks Model Portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 index by over 12 percentage points since 1988, with an annualized average return of +23.8% compared to +11.3% for the S&P 500 [5] Specific Stock Performances - United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) shares increased by 32.4% after its Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform [7] - Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) gained 35.9% over the past 12 weeks, while CACI International Inc. (CACI) returned 20.1% during the same period [10] Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) - The ECAP returned -1.30% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +8.1% gain, and +2.72% year-to-date compared to the S&P 500's +14.84% [15] - The portfolio aims to minimize capital loss by holding shares of companies with a proven track record of earnings stability [16] Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) returned 10.9% over the past 12 weeks, while UnitedHealth Group (UNH) increased by 5.9% [18] - The ECDP returned -0.01% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +8.1% gain [20] Top 10 Stock Portfolio - MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) has jumped 41.2% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500's 14.7% increase [22] - The Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,553.1% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's +545.2% [24]

Group 1 - Mall foot traffic rebounded sharply in October 2025, with significant year-over-year (YoY) and month-over-month (MoM) increases, indicating potential consumer enthusiasm for the holiday season [1][2] - All mall formats experienced YoY visit gains in October 2025, with indoor malls leading the growth, while open-air shopping centers and outlet malls returned to positive territory after four months of declines [2] - Despite increased foot traffic, it does not guarantee higher sales, as evidenced by the store closures of major retailers like Macy's and JCPenney [3] Group 2 - Dillard's reported a sales increase for the first time in a while, with a focus on controlling inventory, which ended up 2% compared to 6% at the end of the first quarter [6] - Several retailers are closing stores in 2025, including Forever 21, which is shutting down all 350 U.S. stores, and Claire's, which is closing 291 stores as part of restructuring [7] - Macy's plans to close 66 underperforming stores in 2025 as part of a larger strategy to reduce its footprint, with a total of approximately 150 stores set to close by 2026 [7]

Core Viewpoint - Macy's is positioned well to continue its trend of beating earnings estimates, supported by a strong history of performance in recent quarters [1][2]. Earnings Performance - Macy's has consistently surpassed earnings estimates, achieving an average beat of 65.04% over the last two quarters [2]. - In the most recent quarter, Macy's reported earnings of $0.41 per share against an expectation of $0.19, resulting in a surprise of 115.79% [2]. - For the previous quarter, the company reported $0.16 per share, exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.14, which was a surprise of 14.29% [2]. Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Recent estimates for Macy's have been revised upward, indicating positive sentiment among analysts [5]. - The Zacks Earnings ESP for Macy's is currently +14.82%, suggesting bullish expectations for upcoming earnings [8]. - A positive Earnings ESP combined with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) indicates a high likelihood of another earnings beat [8]. Statistical Insights - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [6]. - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, reflecting the latest analyst revisions [7]. Importance of Earnings ESP - Monitoring a company's Earnings ESP before quarterly releases is crucial for increasing the likelihood of successful investment decisions [10].

Core Insights - Macy's has been struggling with declining sales, leading to store closures and layoffs, as it rethinks its future in the retail landscape [1][3] - The company is reversing its decision to close its iconic Union Square location in San Francisco, indicating a shift in its transformation strategy [2][6] - Macy's has launched a "Bold New Chapter" strategy, planning to close around 150 underperforming stores by 2026 while focusing on its stronger locations [3][4] Company Strategy - The "Bold New Chapter" strategy aims to concentrate investments on 350 stronger locations and prioritize more profitable divisions like Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury [3] - Over the past decade, Macy's has closed more than a third of its stores, including significant locations like the Union Square flagship [4][5] - The company is exploring new development options for the Union Square site in partnership with TMG Partners, keeping the flagship open through at least Q1 2026 [7]

Group 1: Macy's Transformation Efforts - Macy's is implementing a transformation plan to regain customer loyalty and achieve sustainable, profitable growth due to persistent sales declines [1] - The company is consolidating operations by closing dozens of stores and laying off hundreds of employees [1] Group 2: Seasonal Retail Trends - Retailers are preparing for the holiday season by hiring seasonal workers to meet rising consumer demand [2] - Average parcel delivery times have improved, decreasing from 6.6 days in Q1 2020 to 4.2 days in Q2 2023, indicating enhanced logistics efficiency [2] Group 3: Consumer Spending Insights - Consumers plan to spend an average of $890.49 per person on gifts and seasonal items this year, the second-highest amount on record [3] - Despite economic uncertainty, Americans prioritize spending on loved ones during holidays, with many seeking out sales [4] Group 4: Macy's Operational Changes - Macy's is closing its Backstage operations unit at its distribution center in South Windsor, affecting 106 employees [6] - Layoffs from this closure will begin on December 28 and continue through January 10, as per a WARN notice [6]

Core Insights - Macy's is closing its Backstage operation at the South Windsor, Connecticut distribution center, affecting 106 employees, with layoffs occurring between December 28, 2025, and January 10, 2026 [1][2][3] - The company is centralizing Backstage operations to a dedicated facility in Columbus, Ohio, as part of its supply chain modernization efforts [3] - Macy's is implementing a "Bold New Chapter" transformation plan aimed at optimizing its supply chain network to enhance profitability [3][4] Employee Impact - The layoffs will be permanent and will affect various positions including warehouse associates, operations managers, and ARO coordinators [2][3] - Affected employees will receive information on severance and transfer opportunities, but they do not have bumping rights and are not union-represented [3] Automation and Efficiency - Macy's is expanding automation in its operations, highlighted by the recent opening of a new distribution center in China Grove, North Carolina, which boasts the largest storage capacity and highest productivity potential in the network [4][5] - The company has been refining its automation processes over the past two years to improve operational efficiency and safety for employees [5]

Core Viewpoint - Myriad Uranium Corp. announces the expiration of the letter of intent for a proposed merger with Rush Rare Metals Corp., but both parties remain in contact to explore a mutually acceptable agreement [1][2]. Company Overview - Myriad Uranium Corp. is a uranium exploration company with a 75% interest in the Copper Mountain Uranium Project located in Wyoming, USA [2]. - The Copper Mountain project has a history of significant exploration, including 2,000 boreholes drilled and an estimated historical resource value from Union Pacific's investment of C$117 million (2024 dollars) [2]. - The company has also acquired a 100% interest in the Red Basin Uranium Project in New Mexico, which shows extensive near-surface uranium mineralization and significant exploration potential [2].

Core Insights - Retailers are intensifying marketing efforts and sales events to attract consumers during the holiday season amid economic uncertainty and slowing consumer spending [1] - JCPenney is launching a new apparel collection in partnership with iHeartRadio, aiming to boost brand awareness and sales [2][5] - JCPenney's marketing strategies are showing positive results, with increased traffic and engagement from younger shoppers [7][8][11] Retail Industry Trends - The retail industry is facing challenges due to economic conditions, leading to increased competition among brands [1] - Brands are focusing on major sales events to cater to value-conscious consumers [1] JCPenney's Strategies - JCPenney is debuting a 29-piece apparel collection linked to the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball, enhancing its holiday offerings [2][5] - The retailer is implementing various promotional strategies, including Black Friday Early Access and Daily Deals [5] - JCPenney's marketing investments have resulted in increased customer trip frequency and growth in specific segments like Beauty and Home [7] Target Audience and Market Position - JCPenney is successfully attracting younger consumers, which is crucial for its cultural relevance and sustainable growth [8] - Recent marketing campaigns have significantly increased ad awareness and interest among Gen Z [9] Financial Recovery and Challenges - JCPenney has made progress since emerging from bankruptcy, although it continues to face challenges with a shrinking store footprint [12][14] - The company secured $450 million in financing during its restructuring and was acquired for $1.75 billion [13] Macy's Competitive Landscape - Macy's is known for its iconic events that blend retail and entertainment, although it faces its own set of challenges [10][16] - Despite a decline in net sales, Macy's stock has seen a year-to-date increase of over 15% [19]