Amazon to Replace Boeing 767 Fleet With 30 Airbus A330 Freighters by 2027
Amazon.com plans to transition its air cargo fleet from Boeing 767 aircraft to Airbus A330 freighters, with Air Transport Services Group set to acquire and convert 30 Airbus A330 jets to support Amazon's air network. ATSG expects to begin operating the Airbus A330 cargo aircraft for Amazon in 2027 as part of the refreshed fleet. The switch gives Amazon access to larger, more modern cargo aircraft that can carry more volume per flight than the 767s they replace, potentially reshaping how the retailer positions inventory for Prime and marketplace orders, especially on longer domestic and transcontinental routes where aircraft range and payload matter most. The move marks a key shift in Amazon's air logistics strategy and lines up with the company's broader thesis of heavy capital spending on logistics and data centers as a trade off for efficiency and future return potential. The clearest proof point will arrive as ATSG starts flying the A330s in 2027, when Amazon discloses how much of its parcel volume flows through the new jets versus legacy aircraft and third party carriers, along with any commentary on unit costs per package or delivery speed.
Kasikorn Securities Recommends Buying PLANB and COM7 After Shareholders Approve PLANB's Two Board Seats at COM7
Kasikorn Securities holds a positive view on PLANB and COM7 shares after COM7's extraordinary general meeting of shareholders resolved to approve the appointment of two new directors nominated by PLANB, namely Mr. Prin and Dr. Pinitjorn, to COM7's board. As a result, PLANB is highly likely to begin recognizing its share of profits from COM7 starting September 17, which should support profit growth in the fourth quarter of 2026 and continue into 2027. The research team maintains a buy recommendation on both stocks, setting a target price of 6.68 baht for PLANB, supported by its well-performing OOH media business, growth in its higher-margin non-OOH business, and full-year recognition of its share of COM7 profits in 2027. The stock also continues to trade below its historical average and below global peer comparisons. For COM7, the research team notes that the response to iPhone 18 Series pre-orders has been relatively good, and therefore expects third-quarter 2026 sales to grow both year on year and quarter on quarter. It maintains a buy recommendation with a target price of 34.12 baht, and views PLANB's average purchase price of 27.44 baht as potentially a suitable level for re-entering an investment.
Lennar Q3 Revenue Falls 8.7% to $8.05 Billion, Missing Estimates
Lennar missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in its third quarter, with sales falling 8.7% year on year to $8.05 billion against analyst estimates of $8.31 billion, a 3.2% miss. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.23, 4.5% below the consensus estimate of $1.29, while operating margin dropped to 5.7% from 7.9% a year earlier and backlog declined 4.5% year on year to $6.3 billion. Chief Executive Officer Stuart Miller said interest rates and consumer confidence constrained the improvement the company had anticipated going into the quarter, and Lennar responded by increasing sales incentives and adjusting prices, particularly in its largest markets of Texas and Florida, where resale listings have grown and intensified price competition. Chief Financial Officer Diane Bessette said the company's metrics remain dependent on market conditions, and management expects margins to stay under pressure as it works through higher-cost land acquired in a more favorable market, calling land the one input it cannot reengineer. Lennar offset some of the pressure with record-low construction cycle times of 116 days, unsold inventory reduced to 1.8 homes per community, and a 12% year-over-year cut in divisional headcount, while its asset-light model leaves 98% of land controlled and 2% owned. The stock traded at $79.54, up from $78.12 just before the earnings.
JD.com Rises 1.05% as Analysts Lift Earnings Estimates Ahead of Report
JD.com, Inc. closed up 1.05% at $26.92, outpacing the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.17%, while the Dow lost 0.18% and the Nasdaq gained 0.4%. Ahead of its upcoming earnings release, JD.com is projected to report earnings of $1.05 per share, representing year-over-year growth of 101.92%, on revenue of $46.07 billion, up 9.66% from the year-ago period. For the full fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $3.34 per share and revenue of $202.54 billion, changes of +30.98% and +10.28% respectively. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 6.71% higher, and JD.com currently holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The stock trades at a Forward P/E ratio of 7.97, a discount to its industry's average Forward P/E of 16.46.
GM Reinstates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto After Customer Backlash
General Motors will reinstall Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto in its vehicles after initially planning to remove the software from new cars. The reversal came as part of this week's announcement of a new high-resolution dual-screen infotainment system, in which GM quietly noted that CarPlay and Android Auto projection would now be supported. GM had been slowly phasing the software out, reportedly to capture data and subscription revenue, but customers rebelled, and dealers had warned that buyers would walk away without CarPlay. Pras Subramanian, Yahoo Finance's senior autos reporter, cited a statistic that 79% of new car buyers would only consider a vehicle that offered CarPlay, while 98% of cars have CarPlay. Ford CEO Jim Farley has said that 70% of Ford customers are Apple customers, underscoring why automakers are reluctant to drop the feature.
Bridgestone's first half of fiscal year ending December 2026 sees operating profit rise 70.4% to 280.2 billion yen
Bridgestone's first half of the fiscal year ending December 2026 saw revenue rise 9.7% year on year to 2.3216 trillion yen, operating profit rise 70.4% to 280.2 billion yen, and net profit rise 78.5% to 206.2 billion yen. The sharp growth in operating profit was largely a rebound effect from business and plant restructuring costs of 70.2 billion yen booked in the same period a year earlier shrinking to 11 billion yen in the current period, and adjusted operating profit came to 280.8 billion yen, an increase of just under 20% from 234.6 billion yen a year earlier. Operating cash flow in the first half was 341.8 billion yen, of which 109.2 billion yen was used to buy back shares and 73.3 billion yen for dividend payments to owners of the parent, while a further 268.5 billion yen of treasury shares were cancelled. The full-year forecast remains modest, at 4.5 trillion yen in revenue, up 1.6% from the previous year, and 340 billion yen in net profit, up 3.9%.
Volkswagen Cuts 2026 Profit Outlook on China Slump and Porsche Writedown
Volkswagen has dramatically cut its 2026 profit outlook, now expecting an operating margin of no more than 1% this year, down from its previous forecast of at least 4%. The German carmaker expects around €10 billion, or $11.5 billion, in charges this year, including restructuring costs tied to workforce reductions and writedowns on Chinese assets; that total includes a €6-billion writedown related to Porsche, reflecting revised long-term expectations for the sports-car maker. Excluding the exceptional charges, Volkswagen said its operating margin would be around 4%. Volkswagen shares fell more than 7% following the announcement, dragging other automakers lower. Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz said the Chinese market has contracted by around 20%, with no stabilization currently in sight, while Chinese automakers take domestic share and expand into Europe with competitively priced electric vehicles. Volkswagen also said growing EV sales are weighing on profitability at its Volkswagen passenger-car and Audi businesses, and it recently reached an agreement with labor representatives that could increase planned job cuts to 100,000 globally.
DoorDash Buys Wonder's Grubhub Campus Dining for $300 Million
DoorDash is acquiring Wonder's Grubhub Campus Dining business for $300 million and investing another $125 million in Wonder's Series D round. The campus business operates at more than 450 colleges and universities, letting students order from campus dining facilities, pay with dining dollars, and schedule pickup, and DoorDash plans to extend the technology beyond campuses into stadiums, hotels and similar venues, with the transaction expected to close in the first half of 2027. The purchase is modest against DoorDash's scale: the company generated $742 million of free cash flow in the second quarter, up from $355 million a year earlier, while adjusted EBITDA reached $914 million, up 40%, on revenue of $4.45 billion and Marketplace GOV of $33.1 billion. Marketplace GOV rose 36% to $33.1 billion in the quarter while orders increased 27% to 970 million, and even excluding Deliveroo, GOV growth was still 23%. Wonder has expanded to 157 locations, more than quadrupling its footprint since early 2025, and plans to enter Texas in 2027, while DoorDash's second-quarter research and development expense rose to $535 million from $351 million a year earlier. DoorDash said the deal is strategically significant but unlikely by itself to materially change consolidated earnings, leaving the investment case dependent on scaling the campus platform into new venues.
Volkswagen warns of 10-billion-euro profit hit, cuts 2026 margin forecast to one percent
Volkswagen warned Friday of a 10-billion-euro hit to its annual earnings, citing tough conditions in China, problems at subsidiary Porsche and restructuring costs. The German auto giant said it now expects a profit margin of just one percent for 2026, down from a previous forecast of between four and 5.5 percent, and narrowed its sales outlook for the year to a slight fall to about 315 billion euros. Volkswagen wrote down the value of Porsche by six billion euros, its second such hit in a year after a 5.1-billion-euro charge last September, and booked another two billion euros in charges linked to write-downs of VW assets in China, the sale of its Osnabrueck plant in northern Germany and the expansion of early retirement schemes. Finance chief Arno Antlitz said the situation on global markets has continued to worsen, particularly in China, where the Volkswagen and Audi marques are feeling the heat and demand for battery-electric vehicles has accelerated while earning significantly less than internal combustion engine cars. VW shares plunged 7.5 percent after the announcement, while fellow German carmakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW both fell over five percent. The carmaker earlier this month struck a deal with unions to axe up to 100,000 jobs by 2030, increasing by 50,000 the number of expected cuts across the group.
Tesla to Operate Megacharging at Three Forum Mobility Truck Depots
Tesla said it will operate public Megacharging locations at three electric-truck depots being developed by Forum Mobility in California, adding a combined 30 megawatts of charging capacity using Tesla's Megawatt Charging System alongside CCS connectors. The announcement came as Tesla shares climbed about 1% Friday morning, lifted by a broader move into consumer-discretionary stocks that also boosted automakers. General Motors, Ford and Stellantis all gained on Thursday, while the consumer-discretionary ETF rose faster than the broader S&P 500, suggesting the advance was partly tied to sector-wide buying rather than a single Tesla catalyst. Broader market conditions were supportive as well, with oil prices falling about 2% and the 10-year Treasury yield declining, helping ease pressure on equities. Tesla's gain therefore reflects both the new charging-network development and the wider rebound across consumer and automotive stocks.
Volkswagen Cuts 2026 Profit Guidance, Shares Fall 7.5%
Volkswagen AG slashed its fiscal year 2026 operating return on sales guidance to up to 1%, down from a previous forecast of 4% to 5.5%, sending its shares down 7.5%. The German automaker blamed a goodwill impairment tied to Porsche AG, a challenging market environment particularly in China, and additional restructuring expenses. Group sales revenue is now expected at around €315 billion, roughly the midpoint of the prior forecast range, while special effects totaling approximately €10 billion are expected to weigh on operating profit for the financial year, of which €0.9 billion were already reported in the first half of 2026; adjusted for those effects, the full-year 2026 operating return on sales would be about 4%. Volkswagen will recognize a non-cash impairment of around €6 billion on goodwill allocated to the Porsche business segment in the third quarter, following updated medium- and long-term assumptions from Porsche AG including a medium-term corridor of 10% to 15%. The company also flagged additional restructuring expenses from expanded early retirement schemes and the planned sale of Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH, plus non-cash impairments of assets at fully consolidated companies in China, with the three effects combined expected to have a negative impact of around €2 billion in the second half of the year. Volkswagen maintained its net cash flow guidance for the Automotive Division at €3 billion to €6 billion and net liquidity expectations at €32 billion to €34 billion for 2026.
Planet Fitness Director Buys 2,328 Shares for Nearly $120,000
Planet Fitness director Christopher Tanco purchased 2,328 shares of the company's Class A common stock for approximately $119,263, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing. The open-market purchase was executed at a weighted average price of $51.23, with individual trades ranging between $51.22 and $51.23. The transaction, dated Sept. 14, 2026, established a new indirect position through the Maligaya Trust dated 06/06/2024, bringing Tanco's total beneficial ownership to 17,879 shares, including 15,551 shares held directly. Based on the Sept. 16, 2026, market close price of $50.02, the director's total equity holdings are valued at approximately $894,308. Planet Fitness, which operates a capital-light franchising model across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico, and Australia, has a market capitalization of $4.0 billion and trailing-twelve-month revenue of $1.4 billion.
UBS Cuts Nike Price Target to $42, Warns of Further Earnings Cuts
UBS cut its price target on Nike to $42 from $48, maintaining a Neutral rating as analyst Jay Sole said channel checks show the company's global sales growth trend has worsened over the past three months. UBS expects Nike to miss fiscal first-quarter 2027 earnings estimates by about 5 cents per share and to guide fiscal second-quarter EPS to roughly 31 cents to 43 cents, well below the Street's 53-cent estimate. The firm also sees a risk that Nike uses the upcoming earnings report to lower fiscal 2027 expectations ahead of its November investor day, and it believes investors remain too optimistic about the magnitude of potential earnings revisions. Options markets are pricing in an approximately 8% move around the event, compared with Nike's historical average move of about 6.7%. Nike recently traded around $35.78, just above its 52-week low of $35.76, and the stock has fallen roughly 49% over the past year, with Morgan Stanley, BMO and UBS all highlighting downside risks.
Viking Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates as Revenue Climbs 16.5%
Viking Holdings reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.31 per share, up 32.3% from 99 cents a year ago and 4.8% above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.25. Total revenues of $2.19 billion increased 16.5% year over year and beat the consensus mark of $2.13 billion by 3.1%, driven by higher Capacity Passenger Cruise Days and increased revenue per PCD, with Net Yield rising 6.2% to $645. Capacity PCDs increased 10.9% on fleet growth, though occupancy slipped to 94.4% from 95.6%, and Viking carried 249,999 passengers, up from 224,643. Adjusted EBITDA rose 18.2% to $748.43 million and net income climbed to $587.70 million from $439.24 million. For 2026, Viking had sold 96% of Core Products Capacity PCDs as of Aug. 9, 2026, with Advance Bookings of $6.39 billion, 13.0% above the comparable 2025 level, while for 2027 it had sold 53% of Capacity PCDs with Advance Bookings of $4.71 billion, 21.0% higher than the comparable 2026 level. Since the prior earnings release, consensus estimates have shifted down 11.22%, and the stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Lowe's Narrows Fiscal 2026 Outlook to Lower End After Q2 Beat
Lowe's reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $4.40 per share, up 1.6% year over year and ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.22, while revenues rose 8.3% to $25,956 million and missed the consensus estimate of $26,135 million. The quarter included a benefit of 11 cents per share from tariff refunds, and reported earnings were $4.27 per share, unchanged from the year-ago quarter, with $96 million in pre-tax expenses tied to intangible asset amortization from the Artisan Design Group and Foundation Building Materials acquisitions. Comparable sales increased 0.2% year over year, the fifth consecutive quarter of positive comps, supported by Pro and home services and a 15.7% increase in online sales, while persistent DIY macro pressure tempered demand. Lowe's lowered its fiscal 2026 outlook to the lower end of its previously issued ranges, now expecting total sales of $92 billion versus the prior $92-$94 billion range, flat comparable sales versus the previous expectation of flat to up 2%, an operating margin of 11.2% versus the earlier 11.2-11.4% range, and earnings of about $11.75 per share versus the prior $11.75 to $12.25 per share range. The revision reflects first-half operating results and current demand trends, and the outlook includes tariff refunds recognized in the second quarter but excludes potential additional tariff refunds in the second half.
lululemon Cuts Fiscal 2026 Outlook as Q2 Revenue Falls 4%
lululemon athletica inc. reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results that paired tariff-related earnings support with continued demand weakness, and lowered its full-year outlook. The company recognized $134.5 million of IEEPA tariff refunds and $4.1 million of associated interest, which increased diluted earnings per share by $0.86, while second-quarter gross margin rose 200 basis points year over year to 60.5%, primarily on the refund benefit. Even so, operating income declined 13% year over year to $453.7 million and operating margin fell to 18.8%, as revenue declined 4% to $2.4 billion and comparable sales fell 9% and 10% on a constant-dollar basis. The Americas remained the largest pressure point with an 8% revenue decline and a 12% drop in comparable sales, while China Mainland revenue rose 4% on a reported basis but fell 2% in constant dollars. Management now expects full-year revenue of $10.35 billion to $10.50 billion, a decline of 5% to 7%, with earnings per share of $9.48 to $9.73, and third-quarter revenue of $2.29 billion to $2.32 billion, a decline of 10% to 11%, with earnings per share of 93 cents to 98 cents.
Amazon AWS Revenue Hits $42.23B, Up 37% in Fastest Growth in 18 Quarters
Amazon Web Services posted $42.23 billion in revenue, growing 37% year over year, the segment's fastest growth in 18 quarters, with a 39.4% operating margin and a $496 billion contracted backlog. Amazon's chips and AI businesses each eclipsed run rates of more than $25 billion in the second quarter, both growing at triple-digit percentages year over year, while 98% of Amazon's top 1,000 EC2 customers use Graviton and Anthropic and OpenAI have made multi-year, multi-gigawatt commitments to Trainium. Q2 operating income landed at $27.46 billion, up 43.2% year over year, and advertising is a $70 billion-plus trailing-twelve-month business growing 26%. Capex reached $54.21 billion in a single quarter, up 68.4% year over year, and free cash flow swung to negative $7.6 billion on a trailing-twelve-month basis, though most AI capacity is contracted for at least five-year terms. Since Amazon reported Q2 on July 30, 2026, AMZN moved from $230.08 to $251.19, while SPY went from $747.03 to $762.70 and QQQ went from $687.99 to $716.92. Andy Jassy said AWS could become a few hundred billion dollar revenue business and now believes it will be at least double that and very possibly a trillion dollar annual revenue business in time.
lululemon Cuts Fiscal 2026 Outlook as Q2 Revenue Falls 4%
lululemon athletica inc. lowered its fiscal 2026 outlook after second-quarter revenue declined 4% year over year to $2.4 billion and comparable sales fell 9%, or 10% on a constant-dollar basis. The Americas was the weakest region, with revenue down 8% and comparable sales down 12%, while leggings sales dropped roughly 20% as consumers shifted to looser silhouettes. Management now expects full fiscal 2026 revenue of $10.35 billion to $10.50 billion, a decline of 5% to 7%, and earnings per share of $9.48 to $9.73; for the third quarter it guided revenue of $2.29 billion to $2.32 billion, down 10% to 11%, and earnings per share of 93 cents to 98 cents versus $2.59 a year earlier. Second-quarter operating income fell 13% to $453.7 million and operating margin slipped to 18.8%, though the quarter included $134.5 million in tariff refunds that added 560 basis points to gross margin and $0.86 per share after tax. The company ended the quarter with $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents, $593.7 million of available revolver capacity and $1.7 billion of inventory, down 1% year over year, and repurchased 2.7 million shares for $330 million while operating 825 company-operated stores globally as of Aug. 2, 2026.
lululemon Refocuses on New Styles as Leggings Sales Fall 20%
lululemon athletica inc. is refocusing its growth strategy around product creation, product activation and enterprise enablement, aiming to restore full-price sales growth and strengthen long-term brand health. Management said it is updating core franchises, reducing SKUs and improving inventory discipline while increasing chase capabilities, and the company is chasing about 20% more volume this year compared with last year. The strategy follows uneven product performance, with sales in traditional leggings declining approximately 20% in second-quarter fiscal 2026 as consumer preferences shifted toward looser silhouettes, though newer away-from-body women's bottoms such as the Groove Wide-Leg, Align Foldover Jogger, Breezily and updated Dance Studio Pant showed positive momentum, along with favorable response to Scuba, Steady State and Define franchises and continued strength in men's Metal Vent Tech tees and golf tops. Second-quarter fiscal 2026 results showed overall product launches remained uneven, contributing to weaker traffic and conversion trends in key markets. Shares of lululemon have lost 39.9% in the past six months, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings suggests a year-over-year decline of 28.1% and 5.5%, respectively.
KB Home Set to Report Q3 Fiscal 2026 Results on Sept. 22
KB Home is scheduled to report its third-quarter fiscal 2026 results, for the period ended Aug. 31, on Sept. 22 after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for adjusted earnings per share has remained unchanged at 88 cents over the past 30 days, a 45.3% decline from the year-ago quarter's $1.61 per share, while the consensus revenue estimate stands at $1.29 billion, down 20.2% year over year. KB Home expects housing revenues of $1.2-$1.35 billion, down from $1.61 billion a year ago, home deliveries of 2,600 to 2,800 units versus 3,393 units a year earlier, and adjusted housing gross margin of 16-16.6% versus 18.9%. The company guides selling, general and administrative expenses to 11.3-11.9% of housing revenues, compared with 10.7% a year ago. KB Home carries an Earnings ESP of -5.32% and a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and the model does not predict an earnings beat this time around.
Five Below Q2 Sales Jump 22.9% as Premium Valuation Faces Execution Test
Five Below reported second-quarter net sales up 22.9% year over year to $1.26 billion, with comparable sales rising 14.1% and adjusted earnings more than doubling to $1.68 per share. Adjusted operating income increased 105.3% to $113.2 million, and adjusted operating margin expanded about 360 basis points to 9%, helped by higher merchandise margins and fixed-cost leverage. The stock trades at 21.84X forward 12-month earnings, above 14.41X for its Zacks sub-industry and 19.54X for the S&P 500, though below its five-year median of 27.55X, while adjusted earnings are projected to rise 51.7% in fiscal 2026. Inventory reached $941.2 million at the end of the second quarter, up 17.7% year over year, and the company faces tariff, freight, competition and litigation risks. Competitors Dollar General and Dollar Tree posted same-store sales growth of 3.5% and 3.7%, respectively, in their fiscal second quarters. Five Below carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), a VGM Score of B and a Growth Score of B, alongside a Value Score of D and Momentum Score of C.
Five Below Raises Fiscal 2026 Outlook After Q2 Earnings Beat
Five Below raised its fiscal 2026 outlook after second-quarter results exceeded expectations, lifting both its sales and earnings guidance. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.68 per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.34, while net sales rose 22.9% year over year to $1.26 billion, above the consensus estimate of $1.192 billion. Comparable sales increased 14.1%, marking a fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. The company now expects fiscal 2026 net sales of $5.63-$5.71 billion, up from $5.40-$5.48 billion, with comparable-sales growth of 10%-12% versus the prior 6%-8%, and adjusted earnings per share of $9.83-$10.31, up from $8.65-$9.05. Adjusted operating margin is expected to rise about 250 basis points year over year to roughly 12.5% at the midpoint, helped by merchandise-margin gains, fixed-cost leverage and lower tariff costs, though the guidance assumes tariff rates currently in place and faces higher outbound transportation fuel costs and a tougher shrink comparison.
Eisman Calls Tesla's 220x Multiple Crazy, Counts Himself a Robotaxi Skeptic
Steve Eisman, the Neuberger Berman senior portfolio manager made famous by The Big Short, said on his weekly wrap podcast that Tesla's valuation only makes sense if investors believe its robotaxi business will conquer the world, adding, "just count me a skeptic." Eisman noted Tesla's 2026 consensus EPS of $1.66 puts its 2026 P/E at 220 times, versus 6.5 times for General Motors, and that the estimate sits 59% below Tesla's 2022 peak EPS of $4.07. Tesla's Q2 2026 8-K, filed July 22, 2026, showed revenue of $28.24 billion, up 25.5% year over year, but non-GAAP EPS of $0.33 that missed the $0.54 estimate by 38.5%, operating income down 56.9% to $398 million, and free cash flow of negative $1.09 billion. On the bull side, Tesla has expanded Robotaxi service to seven U.S. metros with unsupervised rides in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, reached 1.48 million active FSD subscriptions, up 56% year over year, and plans 2026 CapEx above $25 billion. GM, meanwhile, posted Q2 2026 adjusted EPS of $3.57, beating the $3.18 estimate by 12.1% for a fifth consecutive beat, and raised full-year guidance to EBIT-adjusted of $14.0B to $16.0B and adjusted EPS of $12.00 to $14.00.
Five Below Stock Jumps 26.9% as Raised Fiscal 2026 Outlook Lifts Earnings Estimates
Five Below shares have gained 26.9% over the past three months, helped by improving operating momentum, rising earnings expectations and management's upgraded fiscal 2026 outlook. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings has increased 15.2% in the past four weeks. Comparable sales rose 14.1% in the fiscal second quarter, a fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, driven by a 13.6% rise in transactions and a 0.4% increase in average transaction value, while the two-year comparable-sales stack reached 26.5%. Adjusted gross margin expanded about 220 basis points to 35.6%, adjusted operating margin rose about 360 basis points to 9%, and adjusted operating income increased 105.3% to $113.2 million. Management raised fiscal 2026 net sales guidance to $5.63-$5.71 billion and comparable-sales growth guidance to 10%-12%, and lifted adjusted earnings per share guidance to $9.83-$10.31 from $8.65-$9.05 previously, with adjusted operating margin expected to expand about 250 basis points to roughly 12.5% at the midpoint. FIVE trades at 21.8X forward 12-month earnings, above 14.3X for its Zacks sub-industry and 19.5X for the S&P 500, while inventory stood at $941.2 million, up 17.7% year over year, and the stock carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
RH Opens First Freestanding RH Estates Gallery on Greenwich Avenue
RH announced the opening of RH Estates, The Gallery on Greenwich Avenue, marking the North American debut of its RH Estates concept and the brand's first freestanding Gallery in the world. The concept was previewed at RH Milan during Salone del Mobile and introduced with the opening of RH London. RH said RH Estates will significantly expand its retail presence across the globe this year, followed by a second freestanding RH Estates Gallery on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles opening in 2027. RH operates across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe, offering collections through its retail galleries, sourcebooks and online at RH.com, with integrated hospitality experiences in galleries throughout the United States and internationally.
Subaru Partners With onsemi to Evaluate Embedded Power Platform for Future EVs
Subaru has entered a strategic collaboration with onsemi to evaluate its Embedded Power Platform, a step toward integrating next-generation power architectures into future electric vehicles. Under the partnership, Subaru gains early access to engineering samples and technical expertise as it assesses whether onsemi's power semiconductor integration can deliver scalable, efficient solutions for vehicle electrification. The two companies said the work will explore how a more integrated power system design can improve vehicle performance, efficiency and design flexibility as automakers expand their electrified lineups. The collaboration was announced by onsemi on GlobeNewswire.
Hyundai CEO Warns Chinese Cars Could Flood U.S. Without Tariffs
Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz warned that Chinese vehicles could flood the U.S. market, as they did in Europe, unless Washington maintains tariffs and other trade safeguards, Reuters reported. Munoz noted that Chinese vehicles are 30%-40% cheaper than rival models in some markets including Italy, Spain and France, even with EU trade barriers such as tariffs and minimum pricing commitments in place. He said the UK, which left the EU in 2020 and has no similar tariffs on Chinese cars, now counts all of its top car sellers as Chinese, and warned similar things could happen in the U.S. at different levels unless certain conditions are met. The U.S. has effectively blocked Chinese electric vehicle imports with tariffs of about 100%, though President Donald Trump recently said he would be open to Chinese automakers manufacturing in the U.S. as long as they employ Americans. Munoz's remarks echoed Ford CEO Jim Farley, who told staff in July that the company was bracing for Chinese automakers to enter the U.S. within the next 5-10 years.
Ford Motor has lowered prices on several high-end trims of its 2027 F-150 lineup while adding updated styling and new technology features, a move aimed at addressing truck affordability concerns. The automaker's shares trade at US$13.61, with a 1-day share price return of 1.95%, a 30-day share price return down 2.30% and a 90-day share price return down 3.20%, against a 1-year total shareholder return of 21.33% and a 3-year total shareholder return of 34.72%. The most followed narrative frames Ford as 13% undervalued with a fair value of $15.73 versus the recent $13.61 closing price, while the SWS DCF model estimates a value of US$12.01, below the current price. Ford's Ford Pro commercial platform continues to outperform, with paid software subscriptions up 24% year-over-year and aftermarket approaching 20% of Pro EBIT. Trade policy shocks and a slower than hoped EV transition remain risks, particularly if tariffs bite into costs while truck and SUV demand softens.
Musk Signals Deeper Tesla SpaceX Ties and Terafab Chip Push
Tesla CEO Elon Musk signalled closer operational ties with SpaceX, including potential corporate integration, during recent public comments. Musk highlighted a joint Terafab semiconductor manufacturing effort aimed at supplying custom chips for Tesla vehicles and energy products, and teased the upcoming Tesla Roadster reveal as a showcase for new technology that could leverage SpaceX-related engineering. The hinted Tesla SpaceX integration, the Terafab chip effort and the Roadster technology are only one part of Tesla's broader story, alongside its large electric vehicle operation and its energy storage and generation business. The Terafab partnership and talk of deeper SpaceX integration strengthen the part of the Tesla thesis that relies on tight vertical integration for AI hardware and software, pointing in the same direction as the robotaxi and Optimus plans, where the story depends on owning the full stack rather than relying on external chip suppliers like Nvidia. The news also leans into risks analysts already flag around heavy AI capex, execution complexity and regulatory friction, with a merger or deeper tie-up adding governance and integration questions on top of existing concerns about slower product ramps and already high spending, while competitors such as Mercedes-Benz or BYD keep pushing more conventional EV strategies.
Saint Marc Holdings to acquire Tsurutontan business for 12.8 billion yen
Saint Marc Holdings announced it will acquire the udon specialty business Tsurutontan, operated by K Express, for 12.8 billion yen. The company, which runs bakery restaurants and cafes, will take over the udon specialty restaurant business, including brands such as Mensho no Kokorotsukushi Tsurutontan, through an absorption-type company split, covering 14 directly operated domestic stores, 2 overseas franchise stores, and noodle manufacturing and gift product sales. The inherited division posted sales of 6.135 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2026. The announcement came after the market close on the 17th, and Saint Marc Holdings, seen as a buy candidate, rebounded for the first time in three days, rising 117 yen from the previous day to 2,593 yen. Its closing price on the 18th was 2,535 yen, up 59 yen from the previous day.
SISB to open its 7th international school under Marina Singapore brand with 1,200 seats
SISB Public Company Limited, or SISB, has announced it is moving ahead with the expansion of its seventh international school under a new brand called Marina Singapore International School in Pathum Thani province, with capacity for 1,200 seats. The school will target families in the Rangsit and Pathum Thani areas and broaden access to quality international education. It is expected to open in August 2027, with education delivered responsibly through curricula and activities aligned with sustainable development goals, and the company is confident it can generate long-term growth. Chief Executive Officer Yew Hock Kow, Chief Financial and Accounting Officer Sunantha Leelasangsai, and investor relations representative Supakorn Unhaphaiboon shared the information at an Analyst Meeting on second-quarter 2026 results held recently at the company.
HUMAN MADE rises for fifth straight session, opening first flagship store HUMAN MADE TOKYO in Harajuku on September 26
HUMAN MADE extended its gains sharply for a fifth consecutive session. On the 17th, the company announced that it will open its first flagship store, HUMAN MADE TOKYO, in Harajuku, Tokyo, on September 26. HUMAN MADE TOKYO will be the brand's largest flagship store by floor area and is positioned as a new base for broadcasting to the world from Tokyo.
Somnigroup International completed its all-stock combination with Leggett & Platt on August 26, a deal first announced April 13 and valued at roughly $2.3 billion based on Somnigroup's closing price the day before. The transaction folds a components manufacturer with nearly 140 years of history into a bedding company that already owns some of the best-known names in sleep, giving Somnigroup direct control over a piece of its own supply chain. Net leverage fell to roughly 2.8 times adjusted EBITDA at close, down about 0.2 times, and management is targeting the middle of its 2.0 to 3.0 times range by year-end. Management also lifted the annual run-rate synergy target to $75 million from an initial $50 million estimate. The combined company now runs more than 170 manufacturing facilities across 37 countries with over 36,000 employees. Three weeks before the deal closed, Somnigroup reported second-quarter 2026 results showing adjusted earnings per share up 9.4% to $0.58 even as total net sales slipped 3.0% to $1,823.5 million, with gross margin expanding to 44.8% from 44.0% and a record $236 million in operating cash flow; the company raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $2.85 to $3.15, roughly 11% above 2025 at the midpoint. Somnigroup expects about $50 million a year in non-cash expense from marking the acquired business up to fair value, mostly hitting cost of goods sold, plus another $10 million in non-cash interest expense from revaluing Leggett & Platt's bonds, and it hosts a business update call on September 2 to detail how the synergies get realized.
COM7 Reports iPhone 18 Series Pre-Orders Surpass Previous Generation, iPhone Duo Pre-Orders Open October 16
COM7 disclosed that overall pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Series grew well above the previous generation, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max in Burgundy seeing the highest number of pre-orders, followed by the Glacier color. Kaewjiranai Kemasit, Senior Director of the Apple Product Group at Comseven Company Limited, or COM7, said that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max come with the A20 Pro chip, a new-generation Vapor Chamber, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine, while the Trade IN+ campaign has drawn more than 100% more registrations from customers interested in trading in old devices for new ones compared with the previous generation. Thakol Niyomthai, Investor Relations at COM7, said the company offers a 0% installment program through credit cards for up to 36 months and UFUND loans with installments of up to 48 months, along with offers and privileges worth up to 10,000 baht, and will deliver the iPhone 18 Series through a network of more than 1,300 branches nationwide. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at 48,900 baht and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at 52,900 baht. COM7 will officially open advance pre-orders for the iPhone Duo on October 16, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., with sales beginning on October 23, 2026, at a starting price of 79,900 baht. At the same time, Apple is preparing to launch the Apple Watch Series 12 starting at 14,900 baht, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starting at 29,900 baht, the Apple Watch SE 3 starting at 8,500 baht, and the AirPods 5 starting at 4,790 baht.
Two U.S. Senators Ask FTC to Investigate Amazon and Walmart Over Shopping-Assistant AI
Two U.S. senators have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate shopping-assistant AI from Amazon.com and Walmart. In a letter to the FTC, Senators Tammy Baldwin and Rick Scott said Amazon's Alexa for Shopping and Walmart's Sparky may exclude American-made products from what they display or fail to detect false labeling, undermining U.S. manufacturing and misleading consumers. The senators cited research from a think tank led by former FTC Chair Lina Khan, which found that these AIs provide information about products made in China and other countries while suppressing information about American-made goods. The letter cites that research and notes that when Alexa was asked why there was no made-in-USA filter, it replied that doing so would "take away considerable sales from our largest seller base" and referred to overseas manufacturers. An Amazon spokesperson said the claim that the company deliberately withholds country-of-origin information is fundamentally wrong, and explained that Alexa for Shopping is a service that is continuously improving and that, to prioritize accuracy, it currently directs customers who ask about country of origin to the product detail page. The FTC declined to comment, and Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Mattel Launches Thomas & Friends Content and Bluey Licensing Deal With BBC Studios
Mattel has launched a new Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories content line and signed a Bluey licensing deal with BBC Studios, placing fresh content and toys at the center of its strategy. The moves come as Mattel shares trade at US$13.31, up 1.10% on the day but down 33.58% year to date, with a 1-year total shareholder return of negative 23.20%. The most followed analyst narrative pins Mattel's fair value at $26.97, framing the current price as 51% undervalued, on the view that creative IP revitalization, major licensing partnerships and a push into movies and streaming content can unlock higher-margin recurring revenue beyond traditional toy sales. That bullish case could crack if digital entertainment keeps pulling children away from physical play, or if brand fatigue hits legacy franchises like Barbie and Hot Wheels harder than expected.
SABINA Signals Q3 2026 Retail Sales Recovery, Backs New Collections and Activewear to Drive Growth
Duangdao Mahanavanont, Chief Executive Officer of Sabina Public Company Limited, or SABINA, disclosed that sales in the third quarter of 2026, from July through the present, have begun to recover in the retail channel, which is the main channel with the largest share of sales, covering both sales through Sabina shops and Sabina counters in department stores. She expects the key factor to be the launch of new product collections across both the lingerie and non-lingerie groups, which have been well received by consumers. Earlier, SABINA reported second-quarter 2026 results showing that the retail channel, which accounts for 56% of revenue, saw sales fall 9.4% compared with the same period a year earlier, while the no-store retail channel, or NSR, which accounts for 35%, saw sales drop 13.5%, and the original equipment manufacturing channel, or OEM, which accounts for 9%, saw sales rise 1.5%. Duangdao said the return of sales in the retail channel in the third quarter is starting to be a clearer positive signal, even though overall purchasing power may be lower because of household debt problems and the shift into an ageing society. The company will turn these obstacles into opportunities by offering good-quality products at prices that are not too high, while managing costs efficiently in both sourcing and raw material cost management, and she is confident it can maintain profitability, especially the net profit margin, or NPM, this year in line with the target set. In dealing with Chinese goods in the online channel, SABINA is focusing on research and development of new innovations such as SMART STRETCH lingerie, and stated that it has not been significantly affected by online platforms raising their gross profit, or GP, fees, because it is one of the leading brands in the online market and still maintains good margins from the platforms. As for its strategy going forward, it will add new product lines, especially activewear in line with the exercise trend, such as HYROX competitions and running, which is expanding the non-lingerie product portfolio, and it is expected to rise to 5% of the total portfolio this year in line with the target.
McDonald's Declares $1.93 Quarterly Dividend, Marking 50 Straight Years of Increases
McDonald's declared a quarterly dividend of $1.93 per share, in line with its previous payout, as the company marked 50 consecutive years of dividend increases. The dividend carries a forward yield of 3.11%. It is payable Dec. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 1, with the ex-dividend date also set for Dec. 1.
Finansia keeps Buy on COM7 with 35 baht target after PLANB joins board, iPhone 18 pre-orders surge
Finansia Syrus Securities maintains a Buy rating on Comseven, or COM7, with a target price of 35 baht, after shareholders approved the appointment of two additional directors as expected: Mr. Parin Lojanagosin, Chief Executive Officer of Plan B Media, or PLANB, and Mr. Phinijsorn Luechaikhajornphan, a PLANB director. The move raises COM7's board to nine members from seven. The research team sees COM7 benefiting from its strategic alliance with PLANB, a major Thai out-of-home advertising operator, and is watching for further media collaboration, such as advertising inside Banana stores and on EV7 vehicles, which is initially expected to add roughly 1-2% upside to 2027 earnings. A key near-term catalyst is pre-orders for the new iPhone models. An initial check with COM7 found that pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, in unit terms, exceeded total pre-orders for all models in the iPhone 17 series, which the team views as positive for COM7's share sentiment. This is consistent with SIS Distribution (Thailand), or SYNEX, which saw pre-orders for those iPhone models rise from the same period a year earlier, with part of the increase likely due to a larger allocation of units compared with the iPhone 17 series. However, actual sales from the first day of availability on September 18, 2026 through the fourth quarter of 2026 still need to be monitored, along with the adequacy of supply of the new iPhone models going forward. The research team sees the trend as a supporting factor for Apple-related stocks and better than it and the market had previously expected, and reiterates its Buy rating on COM7 with a 35 baht target price and on SYNEX with a target price of 12.50 baht.
COM7 appoints two new directors from PLANB, set to benefit from surging iPhone 18 pre-orders
Asia Plus Securities has assessed COM7 shares after yesterday's shareholders' meeting approved the appointment of two additional directors, expanding the board from seven to nine members. Both are executives from Plan B Media Public Company Limited, or PLANB: Mr. Parin Lojanagosin, a major shareholder and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Phinijsorn Luechaikhajornphan, Chief Marketing Officer. PLANB previously invested in COM7 shares and currently holds 11.01% of the company's paid-up registered capital. Today COM7 begins selling the iPhone 18 on its first day, following strong reception and pre-orders. Starting prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are about 8% to 11% higher than the launch prices of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the company will begin recognizing revenue from September. The foldable-screen iPhone Duo, the most expensive model, starts at 79,900 baht and will go on sale in October. The research team views the addition of two PLANB directors as positive for both COM7 and PLANB, expecting synergies in the fourth quarter of 2026 through management of advertising space at COM7's nearly 1,400 branches, as well as advertising media on roughly 5,000 EV7 taxis this year. However, this upside is not yet included in estimates. For third-quarter 2026 earnings trends, the research team expects a slight decline quarter-on-quarter due to the low season and the fact that not all iPhone 18 models have launched, with the Standard model likely to debut in late first-quarter 2027. Still, profit is expected to grow strongly year-on-year, driven by the UFUND business, lending, and iCare electronic device insurance, which benefit from iPhone sales. The research team maintains its conservative net profit forecast for 2026 at 4.8 billion baht, up 18% year-on-year, and keeps its Trading recommendation with a 2027 target price of 33.00 baht, based on a PER of 14.9 times, the long-term average. It also expects strong year-on-year profit growth in the third quarter of 2026, accelerating in the fourth quarter of 2026 during the high season.