Nothing says “Friday afternoon in Washington” quite like a constitutional crisis followed by a spontaneous tax on every single thing you own. On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to remind the executive branch that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) isn’t actually a “do whatever you want” card. In a 6-3 ruling that left the White House fuming and trade lawyers salivating, the Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs as unlawful. Naturally, t ...

Core Insights - Michael Fiddelke has succeeded Brian Cornell as Target's new CEO, bringing over 20 years of experience with the retailer [1] - Target's stock has declined nearly 40% over the past five years due to slowing sales growth, declining margins, and politically driven boycotts [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Target remains one of the largest retailers in the U.S. with 1,989 stores, serving over three-quarters of the U.S. population within ten miles of a location [2] - Comparable store sales surged 19.3% in fiscal 2020 due to pandemic-related online marketplace growth, but have since declined, with a 3.7% drop in fiscal 2023 and only a 0.1% increase in fiscal 2024 [3] - Year-over-year comparable sales fell in the first three quarters of fiscal 2025, with expectations of a "low-single digit" decline for the full year [3] Group 2: Challenges Faced - The slowdown in sales can be attributed to inflationary pressures on consumer spending, intense competition, sluggish sales of larger products, supply chain disruptions, and an increasing "shrink rate" due to shoplifting [4] - Target has faced boycotts from various groups over its diversity initiatives, LGBTQ-themed merchandise, and responses to recent ICE raids [4] Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - To combat these challenges, Target has relied on margin-crushing markdowns, resulting in a meager 0.6% CAGR in EPS from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2024, with an anticipated 11% decline in fiscal 2025 [5] - A new 5-year plan initiated by Brian Cornell aims to generate at least $15 billion in fresh sales growth by 2030, focusing on expanding e-commerce, upgrading AI tools, reimagining product categories, enhancing Circle 360 subscriber perks, and opening new stores [6]

Core Insights - Target's stock has increased by 33% since October, reaching $118.98, raising its market cap to approximately $53.9 billion, prompting questions about the viability of a buyout [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - Target's revenue declined by 1.43% year-over-year in Q3, while operating income fell by 18.91% to $948 million [1] - Management has guided for a low-single digit sales decline in Q4, indicating that the turnaround is still in its early stages [1] - Digital comparable sales increased by 2.4%, and same-day delivery surged more than 35% [1] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Under new CEO Michael Fiddelke, Target is implementing a three-pronged strategy focusing on merchandising authority, enhancing the shopping experience, and leveraging AI technology for quicker decision-making [1] - The FUN 101 transformation has resulted in nearly 10% comparable growth in toys during Q3, and the company plans a $5 billion capital expenditure for 2026, marking the largest store transformation investment in a decade [1] Group 3: Market Sentiment and Buyout Potential - Analyst sentiment is shifting, with a consensus price target of $103.81, reflecting concerns about the pace of operational recovery [1] - Despite the stock rally, the structural case for a take-private transaction remains, as Target's market cap is within reach of private equity firms, trading at 14x trailing earnings [1] - Prediction markets show no active contracts related to a TGT buyout, indicating that investors are not currently pricing in M&A activity [1]

Retail and apparel stocks from Nike to Target spiked following the Supreme Court’s ruling to strike down President Donald Trump’s tariffs https://t.co/OjCo0oYtgp ...

Key Takeaways Target is accelerating digital, AI and omnichannel initiatives to drive growth and guest engagement.COST relies on membership revenues, operational efficiency and strong customer loyalty for steady earnings.Target's attractive valuation and momentum make it the more compelling upside play than Costco.Target Corporation (TGT) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) are two leading players in the U.S. discount retail sector, catering to budget-conscious shoppers. Target, with a market capitaliza ...

Core Viewpoint - Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is currently viewed as a strong investment opportunity in the natural and organic food sector, with varying price targets and ratings from different analysts [1][2][3]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Guggenheim raised the price target for Target Corporation to $125 from $110 while maintaining a Buy rating, based on an above-consensus 2026 EPS forecast and a projected fiscal Q1 same-store sales growth of 0%-1% [1]. - Bernstein reiterated a Sell rating on Target with a price target of $80, indicating a more cautious outlook compared to other analysts [2]. - Citi adjusted its price target to $110 from $89 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the shares, reflecting a moderate stance on the stock [2]. Group 2: Executive Leadership Changes - Target announced a series of executive leadership changes under the new CEO, aimed at accelerating growth plans following recent Board of Directors additions [3]. - The company confirmed expectations to report fiscal Q4 2025 sales and full-year GAAP and adjusted EPS in line with prior guidance, suggesting stability in financial performance [3]. Group 3: Product Offerings - Target Corporation offers a diverse range of products, including natural and organic food options, everyday essentials, and general merchandise across various categories such as food and beverages, home furnishings, and decor [4].

Core Insights - Sranan Gold Corp. has announced positive assay results from its ongoing diamond drilling program at the Randy's Pit target, indicating significant near-surface gold mineralization [1][2]. Drilling Results - Drill hole 26RADD-023 encountered 30 meters of 0.67 grams per tonne gold starting at 99 meters downhole, including a one-meter interval assaying 12.53 g/t Au [2]. - Drill hole 26RADD-021 reported an interval of 4 meters averaging 6.58 g/t Au, with one meter grading 21.8 g/t Au [2]. - Drill hole 26RADD-022 contained a 20.6-meter interval of 0.64 g/t Au starting from the surface [2]. - Drill hole 26RADD-020 tested the structural gap between northern and southern portions of Randy's Pit, confirming mineralization continuity [2]. Mineralization Characteristics - The Poeketi Shear Zone (PSZ) hosts the gold mineralization at Randy's Pit, characterized as a mylonitic shear zone with visible gold often seen on shear planes in the core [4]. - The PSZ shows progressive strain with extensional vein sets, indicating a well-mineralized gold system with multiple ore shoots and high grades at shallow depths [4][8]. Company Overview - Sranan Gold Corp. is focused on mineral exploration and acquisition of mineral property assets in Suriname, with its flagship Tapanahony Project covering 29,000 hectares [10]. - The company has recently acquired the 18,468-hectare Lawatino Project, further expanding its portfolio in a prolific gold mining district [10].

Walking into Target isn't what it used to be. Years back, my friends and I used to joke that it was impossible to make it through a Target shopping trip without spending a minimum of $100. Now, it's gotten all too easy to avoid impulse buys — namely because a lot of Target stores have simply lost their charm. It's a shame, too. Not long ago, fans of the big-box giant were affectionately calling the store "Tarzhay" due to its appealing range of modestly priced higher-end inventory. Now, a lot of the pr ...

Core Insights - The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) has shown an 11.05% return over the past year, but its performance has slowed with only a 2.47% increase year-to-date and a 3.34% decline in the past month, indicating uncertainty in consumer spending [1] Retail Performance - Walmart (WMT) exceeded revenue estimates by $4.33 billion, driven by a 27% surge in eCommerce sales, resulting in a 15.65% stock increase year-to-date [1] - TJX Companies reported a 5% rise in comparable sales and a 7.49% increase in total revenue, benefiting from consumers shifting towards value retailers [1] - Dollar General (DG) achieved a 37.6% EPS beat and 2.5% same-store sales growth, reflecting the trend of value-seeking consumer behavior [1] - Target (TGT) experienced an 18.91% decline in operating income, struggling to maintain competitiveness without a clear value proposition [1] Consumer Spending Trends - The performance of XRT is closely tied to U.S. consumer spending, with December 2025 retail sales reported at $735 billion, flat month-over-month but up 3.3% year-over-year [1] - A decline in monthly growth below 2% or consecutive negative months could exert downward pressure on XRT, compressing margins across its holdings [1] - The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is at 52.9, indicating recessionary territory, with sustained readings below 50 signaling potential spending declines [1] Equal-Weight Methodology - XRT's equal-weight structure allows smaller retailers to have the same influence as larger ones, which can lead to significant performance shifts during quarterly rebalancing events [1] - Monitoring State Street's monthly holdings files and quarterly rebalance announcements is crucial for understanding potential changes in exposure to discount versus full-price retail [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York published a paper indicating that 90% of the costs from Trump's tariffs are borne by U.S. consumers and companies, contradicting the White House's stance that foreign exporters are responsible for these costs [1][3]. Group 1: Economic Analysis - The paper's findings suggest that foreign exporters are not absorbing tariff costs but are instead passing them on to American buyers [2][3]. - The National Economic Council director criticized the paper for its narrow focus on prices, arguing that it overlooked wage growth and benefits from onshoring [3]. Group 2: Public and Political Reaction - The comments from the National Economic Council director sparked a strong online reaction, with some commentators labeling the Trump economic team as divided and lacking credibility [4]. - The Tax Foundation estimated that tariffs would cost the average U.S. household $1,000 by 2025, aligning with the consensus that import taxes are primarily borne by domestic consumers [4]. Group 3: Market Predictions - Prediction markets indicate a 26% chance that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of Trump's tariffs, which could lead to refunds exceeding $130 billion and impact American trade policy [5]. - A separate market estimates an 18% chance that importers will receive refunds, suggesting limited expectations for consumer reimbursement even if the court rules against the tariffs [6]. Group 4: Retail Sector Insights - Traders are closely monitoring Walmart's upcoming earnings report for any commentary on tariffs, as the retailer has reached a record customer penetration of 72% of U.S. households, indicating a shift towards budget-conscious shopping [6].