$WMT

Short interest for Walmart gives investors a sense of the degree to which investors are betting on the decline of Walmart's stock. Short interest data is updated every two weeks.

Walmart Stock (NYSE:WMT), Short Interest Report

Walmart

Walmart serves as the preeminent retailer in the United States, with its strategy predicated on superior operating efficiency and offering the lowest priced goods to consumers to drive robust store traffic and product turnover. Walmart augmented its low-price business strategy by offering a convenient one-stop shopping destination with the opening of its first supercenter in 1988.Today, Walmart operates over 4,600 stores in the United States (5,200 including Sam's Club) and over 10,000 stores globally. Walmart generated over $440 billion in domestic namesake sales in fiscal 2024, with Sam's Club contributing another $86 billion to the firm's top line. Internationally, Walmart generated $115 billion in sales. The company serves around 240 million customers globally each week.

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In the latest market close, Walmart (NYSE: WMT) reached $60.24, with a +0.13% movement compared to the previous day. The stock lagged the S&amp;P 500&#39;s daily gain of 0.32%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.38%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.35%.

Walmart Advances But Underperforms Market: Key Facts

Walmart Photo by Sundry Photography on Shutterstock

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Walmart to close healthcare clinics nationwide. 51 clinic locations shutting down, pharmacies and vision centers remain open. Company cites challenging reimbursement environment and rising operating costs.

Walmart to Shut Down All Clinic Locations Amid Rising Costs – What It Means for Your Healthcare?

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VZIO

In a new regulatory filing, Vizio announced that the company and Walmart received a request from the FTC for additional information in connection with its review of the merger. The second request extends the waiting period until 30 days after both companies have complied with the second requests. 

What&#39;s Going On With Vizio Stock Tuesday?

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In the latest market close, Walmart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>) reached $60.24, with a +0.13% movement compared to the previous day. The stock lagged the S&amp;P 500&#39;s daily gain of 0.32%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.38%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.35%.
Prior to today&#39;s trading, shares of the world&#39;s largest retailer had lost 0.02% over the past month. This has was narrower than the Retail-Wholesale sector&#39;s loss of 1.39% and the S&amp;P 500&#39;s loss of 2% in that time.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Walmart in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is scheduled to release its earnings on May 16, 2024. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $0.52, indicating a 6.12% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $158.89 billion, showing a 4.33% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $2.36 per share and a revenue of $671.5 billion, demonstrating changes of +6.31% and +3.61%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Walmart. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the company&#39;s business and profitability.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. Right now, Walmart possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, Walmart is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 25.54. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry&#39;s Forward P/E of 12.32.
Investors should also note that WMT has a PEG ratio of 3.93 right now. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock&#39;s expected earnings growth rate. The Retail - Supermarkets industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.38 as trading concluded yesterday.
The Retail - Supermarkets industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 95, positioning it in the top 38% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Remember to apply Zacks.com to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2264496/walmart-wmt-advances-but-underperforms-market-key-facts?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|yseop_template_6-2264496">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Walmart&nbsp;Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) said on Tuesday&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2024/04/30/walmart-health-is-closing" rel="noreferrer noopener">that</a>&nbsp;it would close all of its healthcare clinics across the country. Walmart pharmacies and vision centers were unaffected.
The big box retailer will close 51 clinic locations and shut down the virtual care offerings.
The company said in a release that the plan will not affect its 4,600 pharmacies and more than 3,000 vision centers.&nbsp;
&#8220;This is a difficult decision, and like others, the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs create a lack of profitability that&nbsp;make&nbsp;the care business unsustainable for us at this time,&#8221; Walmart said.
&#8220;Through our experience managing Walmart Health centers and Walmart Health Virtual Care, we determined there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue,&#8221; Walmart added.
CNBC noted, citing two people familiar with the matter, that the clinics will close over the next 45 to 90 days.
CNBC added that the shortage of healthcare workers in the U.S. has also increased the company&#8217;s labor costs.
The announcement comes just a month after Walmart said it&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2024/03/29/walmart-health-clinic-expansion-on-track-for-70-by-years-end/?sh=49302f244e4b" rel="noreferrer noopener">planned to double the size</a>&nbsp;of its clinic footprint by opening up 22 new locations this year and more in 2025.&nbsp;
Patients with scheduled appointments will continue to be seen, and Walmart will make efforts to direct patients to providers in their insurance networks, CNBC reported.
Walmart&nbsp;opened its first Walmart Health clinic in 2019.
CNBC report added that Walmart&#8217;s customers, who&nbsp;were&nbsp;accustomed&nbsp;to shopping for groceries and household items, could also access healthcare services like doctor&#8217;s appointments, therapy sessions, flu tests, X-rays, and stitches at Walmart clinics. These services were affordable, with&nbsp;prices such as&nbsp;$30 for an annual check-up, $45 for counseling, and $25 for teeth cleaning.&nbsp;
Walmart assured employees affected by store closures that they could transfer to other locations, with pay guaranteed for 90 days unless they secured a transfer or left the company.
Price Action: WMT shares are down 1.71% at $59.21 at the last check Tuesday.
Photo by Sundry Photography on Shutterstock

VIZIO Holding Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZIO#NYSE">VZIO</a>) shares are trading lower Tuesday after Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) received a request for additional information from the FTC regarding its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/02/37132583/walmart-vizio-deal-a-potential-boon-or-bane-for-roku-analysts-sound-off-before-q4-e">planned merger with Vizio</a>.
What To Know: In February, Vizio entered into an agreement to be acquired by Walmart for $11.50 per share in cash.
On March 25, Walmart held discussions with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and notified the antitrust agencies that it would voluntarily withdraw and refile reports for the merger in order to give the agencies additional time to review the merger. Walmart then refiled the notification and reports on March 29.
In a new regulatory filing, Vizio announced that the company and Walmart received a request from the FTC for additional information in connection with its review of the merger. The second request extends the waiting period until 30 days after both companies have complied with the second request. 
Vizio and Walmart said they expect to &#8220;promptly respond&#8221; to the second request and will continue working cooperatively with the FTC as it continues to conduct its review of the merger. 
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy Vizio Stock</h2>
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share &#8211; or fractional share &#8211; of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument. 
For example, in VIZIO Holding's case, it is in the Consumer Discretionary sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
VZIO Price Action: Vizio shares were down 1.39% at $10.65 at the time of publication, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: Sundry Photography from Shutterstock.

What's Going On With Vizio Stock Tuesday?

Walmart Says New 490,000+ Square Foot Facility Will Leverage Automated Technology, Add Efficiency To Supply Chain

New 490,000+ square foot facility will leverage automated technology, add efficiency to Walmart's supply chain
Today, Walmart hosted the grand opening of its newest high-tech consolidation center in Minooka, Illinois. The new 492,000 square-foot facility, located at 201 S. McLinden Road will bring nearly 700 additional jobs to the area. Once implemented, the facility's automated technology can enable three times more volume to flow throughout the center and help Walmart deliver the right product to the right store, so customers can find the products they need. This building will be the third of its kind in Walmart's supply chain. The first, located in Colton, Calif., <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcorporate.walmart.com%2Fnewsroom%2F2019%2F01%2F14%2Fhigh-tech-consolidation-center-set-to-open-in-july-adding-efficiency-to-walmarts-supply-chain&amp;esheet=53967929&amp;newsitemid=20240430434359&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=opened+in+2019&amp;index=1&amp;md5=7b25eb4432a5d8adfc5bd1256a3451a7">opened in 2019</a>.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240430434359/en/">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240430434359/en/</a>
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"We've made continued investments in our people, facilities and technology to ensure we have the right product, in the right place, at the right time," said Mike Gray, Senior Vice President of Ambient Operations at Walmart. "As part of these investments, the Minooka facility will provide even more opportunities for small to medium sized suppliers in the region who do not ship nationwide, the ability to provide product to all 4,700 Walmart stores."
Consolidation centers have a specialized role in moving products quickly on their journey to store shelves, and ultimately, the customer. Each has the ability to receive general merchandise items from suppliers in smaller freight loads, known in the industry as less than a truckload (LTL) and consolidate them into larger freight loads, known as full truckloads (TL). Then the product is shipped to one of Walmart's 42 regional distribution centers where it is sorted for distribution to stores. The technology in the facility provides benefits for both customers and suppliers. It significantly enhances supply chain efficiency, enabling Walmart to generate savings that can be directly passed onto customers through lower prices. For suppliers, it streamlines the process of purchase order fulfillment, reduces lead times and unlocks faster delivery to customers.

Walmart Opens High-Tech Consolidation Center In Minooka, Illinois Creating 700 New Jobs

-- Since announced at CES, Sam's Club's first-of-its-kind application of AI and video technology reaches 20% of its clubs in just four months --

Sam's Club Deploys AI-Powered Exit Technology At 120+ Locations

The Nasdaq 100 closed higher by 0.4% on Monday. Investors, meanwhile, focused on some notable insider trades.
When insiders sell shares, it could be a preplanned sale, or could indicate their concern in the company's prospects or that they view the stock as being overpriced. Insider sales should not be taken as the only indicator for making an investment or trading decision. At best, it can lend conviction to a selling decision.
Below is a look at a few recent notable insider sales. For more, check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">Benzinga&#8217;s insider transactions</a> platform.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Walmart</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) President and CEO C Douglas McMillon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">sold a total of 29,124 shares</a> at an average price of $60.03. The insider received around $1.75 million from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On April 16, Evercore ISI Group analyst Greg Melich maintained Walmart with an Outperform and lowered the price target from $67 to $66.</li>
<li>What Walmart Does: Walmart serves as the preeminent retailer in the United States, with its strategy predicated on superior operating efficiency and offering the lowest priced goods to consumers to drive robust store traffic and product turnover.</li>
</ul>
Have a look at our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">IMAX</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: IMAX Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IMAX#NYSE">IMAX</a>) CTO and EVP Calamera Pablo <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">sold a total of 6,130 shares</a> at an average price of $17.05. The insider received around $104,528 from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On April 25, Imax reported quarterly earnings of 15 cents per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 10 cents.</li>
<li>What IMAX Does: Imax Corp is a premier global technology platform for entertainment and events</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PriceSmart</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSMT#NASDAQ">PSMT</a>) Director Sherry S. Bahrambeygui <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">sold a total of 1,500 shares</a> at an average price of $80.52. The insider received around $120,780 from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On April 9, PriceSmart reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and announced a one-time special dividend of $1 per share.</li>
<li>What PriceSmart Does: Pricesmart Inc is principally engaged in operating U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs that offer consumer goods at low prices.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Raymond James Financial</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RJF#NYSE">RJF</a>) President &amp; CEO RJBank Steven M Raney <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">sold a total of 4,174 shares</a> at an average price of $121.01. The insider received around $505,107 from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On April 24, Raymond James Financial reported mixed second-quarter financial results.</li>
<li>What Raymond James Financial Does: Raymond James Financial is a financial holding company whose major operations include wealth management, investment banking, asset management, and commercial banking.</li>
</ul>
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Walmart, PriceSmart And 2 Other Stocks Insiders Are Selling

Vizio: Said Walmart Received Request For Additional Information And Documentary Material From FTC In Connection With Merger Review

Walmart Launches bettergoods, A New Private Brand Making Elevated Culinary Experiences Accessible For All

<a href="https://digiday.com/marketing/walmart-and-roblox-are-teaming-up-to-make-virtual-e-commerce-a-reality/">https://digiday.com/marketing/walmart-and-roblox-are-teaming-up-to-make-virtual-e-commerce-a-reality/</a>
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As of today, Walmart is able to sell physical goods directly to users inside Roblox.
The introduction of real-life e-commerce could be a watershed moment for the company's ambitions to become an all-encompassing destination for virtual life.
Walmart's Roblox e-commerce experience launches later today, with users inside the pre-existing <a href="https://www.roblox.com/games/13398230007/Walmart-Discovered">Walmart Discovered</a> able to have real-life items shipped directly to their doorsteps. Users entering the experience will be greeted with a new storefront showcasing virtual twins of select physical items sold at real-life Walmart stores.&nbsp;
After trying out the virtual items on their avatars, players will be able to load an e-commerce experience that takes the form of a browser window inside Roblox imitating the experience of shopping on Walmart's website —&nbsp;essentially a virtual laptop set up inside Roblox to access Walmart.com. The commerce feature within Walmart Discovered will be gated specifically to users aged 13 or older in the United States only.
"There is a traditional sort of checkout flow where you put your name, your address and your credit card information, and that's all powered by a Walmart API that handles all of the information super securely — it's very safe," said Walmart director of brand experiences and strategic partnerships Justin Breton. "And once you hit checkout, you'll get your confirmation email from Walmart. All of that is handled by us on the back end, the user will then get their item in the mail, but the virtual twin is granted immediately back on Roblox."
To promote the e-commerce experience, Walmart collaborated with three Roblox creators —&nbsp;Sarabxlla, MD17_RBLX and Junozy — to design Robloxified versions of three physical Walmart products, which include a <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/No-Boundaries-Women-s-Crochet-Festival-Hobo-Bag-Ombre-Smiley/2336174474">No Boundaries festival hobo bag</a>, a <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/TAL-Stainless-Steel-Hudson-Tumbler-with-Straw-40-fl-oz-Pink/3167179247?adsRedirect=true">TAL stainless steel tumbler</a> and <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/onn-Wireless-Bluetooth-on-Ear-Headphones-Black-New/368708375?athbdg=null%26athbdg%3DL1102_L1102&amp;from=/search">Onn wireless headphones</a>.
Roblox first teased the launch of e-commerce during November's <a href="https://digiday.com/marketing/heres-what-marketers-need-to-know-about-roblox-investor-day-2023/">Roblox Investor Day</a>, and the Walmart experience is a pilot test that will run through the month of May. During the pilot test, Roblox will not receive a cut of item sales, with all revenues going directly to Walmart. Instead of acting as a new revenue stream for Roblox in the short term, the test will gauge users' willingness to purchase physical goods on the platform.
Today's pilot test is the first of multiple e-commerce tests that Roblox is planning with different products, brands and shopping methodologies. When it all shakes out, it's possible that future e-commerce experiences on the platform will ultimately look very different than Walmart's pilot test.
"We are excited to start testing real-world commerce as a key step towards enabling it in the future for our community of creators and brands," said Roblox vp of economy Enrico D'Angelo. "Shopping for virtual items is already an important element of how people engage and express themselves on Roblox daily, so our goal is to gather feedback, test the technology and learn what resonates with Gen Z customers the most when it comes to shopping for physical items."
<h2>Platform status</h2>
Much like Roblox's push to evolve into an <a href="https://digiday.com/marketing/robloxs-ad-network-is-gradually-coming-together-on-pace-with-some-growing-pains/">ad network</a>, which kicked into high gear <a href="https://digiday.com/marketing/roblox-earnings-why-enticing-brands-is-key-to-the-future-of-the-metaverse-platform/">last year</a>, the company's expansion into e-commerce highlights its aspirations to transcend its origins as a gaming company to become a full-fledged digital platform. If all goes well, the platform's leaders hope to steer it to much greater heights, similar to the evolution of Facebook from a social platform into a destination for shopping and dating, or to Amazon's expansion from bookselling into gaming and streaming video.&nbsp;
"Our vision for shopping as part of the Roblox economy: it will ultimately model the physical world, with the ability to go above and beyond by overcoming physical limitations and offering added value to shop on the platform," D'Angelo said.&nbsp;
The opportunity of Roblox e-commerce extends beyond dedicated retailers such as Walmart. The ability to sell physical goods through Roblox represents a concrete revenue stream that is attractive to just about any brand with its own Roblox world — the equivalent of a merchandise booth at a music festival or sports game.&nbsp;
"Even for those where you might not think about it directly as an e-commerce type of client, all of them have e-commerce connected to it, especially for sports brands and leagues," said Marcus Holmström, CEO of the Roblox development studio The Gang, which has developed numerous Roblox experiences for sports brands such as FIFA and Wimbledon. "FIFA, for example —&nbsp;in every World Cup, they have official stores. So if they move the official store into Roblox, it opens up a worldwide market."
Walmart has aspirations beyond its own e-commerce experience, too. If May's pilot test goes well, the retailer has no plans to take down the e-commerce storefront inside Walmart Discovered. On the contrary, Walmart is looking to expand its e-commerce presence on Roblox, with dreams of potentially becoming the default commerce provider for experiences across the gaming platform.
"We will learn together; we will optimize together," Breton said. "And, hopefully, there's a future state where Walmart's powering commerce in Walmart Discover, but in other experiences. I think the future's bright, and there's a lot of opportunity to use our learnings to inform a different road map for the future."

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'Walmart And Roblox Are Teaming Up To Make Virtual E-Commerce A Reality; As Of Today, Walmart Is Able To Sell Physical Goods Directly To Users Inside Roblox' - Digiday

Walmart Inc CEO Doug McMillon was paid 976 times more than the&nbsp;median associate in the world&#39;s largest retail company over the last fiscal year.
Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) CEO Doug McMillon was paid 976 times a median associate in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38313218/amazon-aims-to-outdo-walmarts-retail-game-boosts-cashierless-tech-in-stores">world&rsquo;s largest retail company</a> over the last fiscal year.
What Happened: McMillon was paid $26.97 million last fiscal year as compared to the annual total compensation of a median associate which was $27,642, the company said in a filing on Thursday.
As of December 31, 2023, Walmart employed about 2.15 associates worldwide, with over 2 million employed just in the U.S. The company has over 5000 stores in the U.S. and accumulated consolidated revenue of $648.1 billion and consolidated operating income of $27 billion over the past fiscal year.
McMillon had a base salary of over $1.5 million, received stock awards of $19.61 million and other compensation of about $5.85 million, taking his cumulative salary for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31 to $26.97 million or 6.6% higher than the fiscal year before.
Why It Matters: The pay disparity between CEOs and their employees has been a contentious issue for some time. The significant difference in McMillon&rsquo;s compensation compared to the median Walmart employee&rsquo;s earnings highlights this ongoing debate. This disparity is even more pronounced when compared to other retail giants like Target and Costco, where the CEO-to-worker pay ratios are significantly lower.
Earlier, this month planemaker Boeing said that the company paid its outgoing CEO David Calhoun $32.8 million as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38130210/elon-musk-reacts-as-boeing-ceo-david-calhoun-receives-33m-compensation-in-2023-despite-airplane-make">total compensation in 2023.</a> While Calhoun&#39;s salary only accounts for $1.4 million of his total compensation, he received $30.2 million in stock awards and $1.2 million as all other compensation last year, Boeing said in a regulatory filing.
Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/04/38429785/this-walmart-landlord-has-generated-a-14-net-irr-for-its-investors-since-2015-here-are-its-latest-in">Walmart</a> stock fell 0.08% to $60.16 per share on Friday, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. As of the stock&rsquo;s previous close, the company has a market cap of $485.28 billion, significantly higher than Target Corp&lsquo;s $75.92 billion or Costco Wholesale Corporation&lsquo;s $320.15 billion.
Check out more of Benzinga&rsquo;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">following this link</a>.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38474900/tesla-to-cut-693-jobs-in-nevada-amid-global-workforce-reduction-government-notice">Tesla To Cut 693 Jobs In Nevada Amid Global Workforce Reduction: Government Notice</a>
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Walmart CEO Doug McMillon Earns 976 Times More Than Median Employee Last Fiscal Year

Roku, Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>) shares are trading lower today. Analysts slashed their price targets after the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38446113/roku-exceeds-q1-earnings-expectations-provides-upbeat-guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter print&nbsp;on Thursday.</a>
Wedbush&nbsp;analyst Michael Pachter maintained Roku with an Outperform rating and lowered the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ROKU/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price target from&nbsp;$80&nbsp;to&nbsp;$75</a>.
The reiteration reflected significant opportunities for growth in Roku&#8217;s business and its commitment to expanding profitably.
Roku reached positive annual EBITDA in 2023, one year earlier than it guided, is on a path to exceed $100 million in annual EBITDA in 2024 and should accelerate from there. Pachter&nbsp;noted Roku will not revert to excessive spending for long-term growth. Instead, Roku has re-focused on balancing new initiatives that result in near-term ROI with expanding FCF and tracking toward positive net income. Pachter said that&nbsp;Roku continues taking market share as ad dollars shift from linear to digital-connected TV (&#8220;CTV&#8221;).
Roku is also capturing an expanding share of&nbsp;newfront&nbsp;ad bookings as it adds incremental ad inventory to its platform, and it has begun to benefit from the rebound in scatter demand and pricing. Roku is also expanding beyond its OneView platform and opening up to other demand-side platforms (DSPs) to drive more advertising, Pachter noted.
Its focus on curated sports pages should also drive incremental advertising and subscription revenue in the near and long term. Pachter projected second-quarter revenue of $935 million (prior $941 million) and EBITDA of $32.9 million (prior $21.1 million).
Piper Sandler&nbsp;analyst Matt Farrell reiterated Roku with a Neutral and lowered the price target from&nbsp;$81&nbsp;to&nbsp;$65.
Roku delivered first-quarter platform revenue and EBITDA ahead of expectations, with guidance slightly above consensus. However, Farrell noted that investors are left looking for more, as platform revenue acceleration will not be until 2025, and sales and marketing spending in the second half will weigh on EBITDA. Management has a clear strategy, focused on a three-pronged approach to accelerate platform revenue next year.
Roku sits at an exciting spot in the CTV transition, but Farrell would rather wait for revenue to inflect to get more constructive on the story. Farrell projected second-quarter revenue of $930.1 million and EBITDA of $30.8 million.
Benchmark&nbsp;analyst Daniel Kurnos maintained Roku with a Buy and lowered the price target from&nbsp;$115&nbsp;to&nbsp;$105.
Roku remains firmly in the show-me camp, with fears of disruption from Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) &#8211; VIZIO Holding Corp (NYSE: VZIO), Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) ad-supported, and any other number of headlines continuing to outweigh what he noted is growing evidence that Roku is a must-advertise platform. Kurnos projected second-quarter revenue of $936 million and EBITDA of $31 million.
Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein reiterated a Perform rating. While Helfstein remained positive on programmatic integrations, now integrated with most DSPs, revenue tailwinds lag as SVOD advertising and Media and Entertainment remain headwinds.
Helfstein&nbsp;projected second-quarter revenue of $935.7 million (prior $909.4 million) and adjusted EBITDA of $30.1 million (prior $12.95 million).
JP Morgan&nbsp;analyst Cory A Carpenter remained Overweight-rated on Roku but lowered his price target from $100 to $90.
Roku remains a show-me story as it works through tough comps and overhangs from potential CPM compression and WMT &#8211; VZIO. Still, the analyst remained optimistic about management&#8217;s ability to re-accelerate Platform growth as 3P DSP partnerships ramp up and ad dollars increasingly shift from linear to streaming.
Carpenter projected second-quarter revenue of $935 million (prior $969 million) and adjusted EBITDA of $30 million (prior $34 million).
Price Action: ROKU shares are trading lower by 9.8% to $56.65 at the last check Friday.
Photo by rafapress on Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Equities

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

AMZN

ROKU

Roku Analysts Vouch for the Must-Advertise Platform, Albeit Seek Revenue Upside to Get More Constructive

Beginning investors often ask, "What makes certain stocks go up, while others don't appreciate at all?" Although there are several answers, one of the main reasons that stocks move higher is when good earnings reports are released.
Investors want to own stocks that have increased earnings over the past year and beaten the analyst consensus estimates. Analysts' opinions often influence stock movements, so when a company beats the analysts' estimates it sends a message to investors that its stock is undervalued. Consequently, the stock often moves up substantially following an earnings beat.
Take a look at two real estate investment trusts (REITs) that just beat the estimates on first-quarter earnings, revenue and forward guidance.
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEB#NYSE">PEB</a>) is a Bethesda, Maryland-based hotel REIT that invests in upscale hotel and resort properties in or near 13 urban markets in major U.S. gateway cities. Most of its 46 properties are located in California and Florida.&nbsp;
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Pebblebrook Hotel has been on a tear since November when it traded in the mid $11 range. Its total return before its first-quarter earnings report was 31.77%. Much of that was because of a strong fourth-quarter 2023 earnings report in February that easily beat the Street estimates and its year-over-year results for funds from operations (FFO) and revenue.
It wasn't surprising that on April 24, it repeated that performance with first-quarter operating results. Adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) of $0.21 per share beat the consensus estimate of $0.15 per share by 40% and walloped its FFO of $0.11 from the first quarter of 2023. Revenue of $314.069 million was ahead of the consensus estimate of $303.776 million and also topped its revenue of $305.719 million from the first quarter of 2023.
In addition, Pebblebrook announced it expects AFFO of $0.59-$0.63 per share for the second quarter of 2024. Analysts were expecting $0.56 per share.&nbsp;
Pebblebrook was up about 1% in early morning trading after the earnings release.
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Agree Realty Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADC#NYSE">ADC</a>) is a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based triple-net-lease REIT, with a focus on retail properties. Its portfolio includes 2,161 owned and operated properties totaling 45 million square feet across 49 states. Sixty-nine percent of its tenants are investment grade, including well-known names like Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBY#NYSE">BBY</a>) Dollar General Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DG#NYSE">DG</a>) and Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>).
Despite an excellent long-term track record since its initial public offering in 1994, Agree Realty has been an underperformer in 2024. Before the earnings release, it had a total return of negative 8.2% year to date. Over the past 52 weeks, the total return was negative 9.27%.&nbsp;
But that hasn't tempered management's optimism and enthusiasm. Agree Realty has seen substantial insider buying over the past 12 months as share prices have declined. This chart shows the large number of shares bought by insiders over the past three and 12 months, as opposed to shares sold:
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Insider Trade</td>
<td>3 Months</td>
<td>12 Months</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of shares bought</td>
<td>177,547</td>
<td>383,335</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of shares sold</td>
<td>31,825</td>
<td>48,189</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total shares traded</td>
<td>209,372</td>
<td>431,524</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Net activity</td>
<td>145,722</td>
<td>335,146</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Additionally, on April 8, Agree Realty announced an increase in its monthly common dividend from $0.247 to $0.25, giving it a 2.9% annual raise. The dividend will be paid on May 14 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 30, with the ex-dividend date on April 29. A dividend raise just before an earnings announcement is often a positive sign that upcoming earnings will meet or exceed expectations.&nbsp;
So perhaps it's not too surprising that on April 24, Agree Realty announced its first-quarter earnings and the results were excellent. FFO of $1.03 per share beat the analysts' estimate of $1.01 per share. The FFO also topped Agree's first-quarter 2023 FFO of $0.98 per share. Revenue of $149.453 million beat the consensus estimate of $146.462 million and was an 18.03% increase from revenue of $126.618 million in the first quarter of 2023.&nbsp;
On full year 2024 AFFO, Agree said it sees $4.10-$4.13 per share. The Street's estimate was $4.07. Investors were impressed, and shares traded over 2% higher in early morning trading following the report&#8217;s release.
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REIT

Real Estate

Two REITs That Just Crushed Earnings Estimates And Guidance

New commitment valued at $300,000 brings total annualized value to over $8M &nbsp;
BranchOut Food's dried fruit products expected to enter 1,400 stores in September 2024

Contracts

BranchOut Food Expends Third Contract With Nation's Largest Retailer, To Total $8M in Annualized Revenue

According to a recent CBS News poll, 39% of Americans believe the economy is "good," with 57% of respondents viewing the economy as "bad."
It's an issue President Joe Biden has to grapple with as his reelection campaign gears up, especially given that 65% of Americans remember the economy as good under former President Donald Trump, according to the poll.
In August 2022, Biden announced "zero inflation" at a time when the consumer price index (CPI) reported it was 8.5%. While he was referring to 0% month-over-month inflation at the time, it rubbed many the wrong way given the negative perception of the economy, with one Republican senator calling the claim "gaslighting."
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While Biden has slightly backed off those claims in the face of still rising inflation, citing "progress" while acknowledging "prices are still too high," a report from the consulting firm McKinsey &amp; Co. uncovered what Americans are now splurging on.
It found that "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-much-should-i-spend-on-groceries">groceries were the new biggest splurge category</a>," beating out other more discretionary categories such as eating out, travel and beauty, with millennials being the most likely to count groceries as their biggest luxury.
Trending: Invest alongside execs from Uber, Facebook and Apple in this<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/aura"> wellness app Transforming a $5.6 TRILLION dollar industry</a>.
While the same report cited improving consumer optimism about the economy, some commentators found humor that groceries are the biggest splurge category in the face of persistent inflation.
Former American intelligence contractor Edward Snowden posted on X, "The ratchet: first they criticize you for eating avocado toast and then for eating at all."
As many Americans struggle to keep up with the rising prices of necessities, some funds see <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gameflip-2">an opportunity to profit</a>.
Alaska Permanent Fund, the largest U.S state wealth fund, recently disclosed it tripled its stake in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>), America's two largest grocery players by market share.
Even Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) is a big fan of Kroger, owning 6.9% of the grocer.
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<li>Invest like a millionaire. Exclusive opportunity to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/epic-games"> invest in Epic Games $17 billion gaming empire.</a></li>
</ul>

Biden's Old '0% Inflation' Comment Comes Back To Bite As McKinsey Says New Biggest Splurge For US Consumers Is Groceries

Affirm Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>) shares are trading lower Tuesday following a report indicating Walmart Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) majority-owned startup One has started offering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/buy-now-pay-later">buy now, pay later services</a>.
What To Know: According to a CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/23/walmart-backed-fintech-one-introduces-buy-now-pay-later.html">report</a>, Walmart-backed fintech startup One has begun offering buy now, pay later options for big-ticket items in some of its U.S. stores. 
One is a direct competitor of buy now, pay later market leader Affirm, which has been the exclusive provider of installment loan services for Walmart customers since 2019. Late last year, Walmart even expanded its agreement with Affirm to add new payment options at self-checkout kiosks at more than 4,500 U.S. stores. 
CNBC visited a Walmart location in New Jersey and found that both One and Affirm were available payment options at checkout. Loans from either provider were available for purchases above about $100 in electronics, jewelry, power tools, automotive accessories and more. Groceries, alcohol and weapons purchases were not eligible for loans from either company. 
The report indicates that buy now, pay later drove approximately $19.2 billion in online spending in the first quarter of 2024, up 12% on a year-over-year basis. 
Affirm is due to report quarterly earnings on May 8. The company is expected to report a loss of 69 cents per share and revenue of $549.416 billion, per estimates from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38377741/music-giant-spotifys-q1-surprise-investors-cheer-premium-subscriber-growth-and-profit-bump">Music Giant Spotify&#8217;s Q1 Surprise: Investors Cheer Premium Subscriber Growth And Profit Bump</a>
AFRM Price Action: Affirm shares were down 7.93% at $29.34 at the time of publication, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: courtesy of Walmart.

AFRM

Affirm Stock Drops As Walmart Rolls Out New Payment Options: The Details

In a recent turn of events, shares of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) have taken a nosedive, while six S&amp;P 500 stocks have seen a surge.
What Happened: When Tesla&#8217;s shares dip, six S&amp;P 500 stocks tend to rise, CNBC Pro <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/23/when-tesla-shares-fall-these-6-stocks-tend-to-rise-according-to-recent-history.html">reported</a> on Monday. These include Linde (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LIN#NASDAQ">LIN</a>), FMC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FMC#NYSE">FMC</a>), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>), Church &amp; Dwight (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHD#NYSE">CHD</a>), Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), and Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>). Over the past month, these stocks have shown an inverse correlation to Tesla&#8217;s performance. While Tesla&#8217;s shares have seen a 40% drop this year, these six stocks have generally risen.
Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Rosner predicts that Tesla&#8217;s rough patch may persist as the company might shift its focus from a new low-cost vehicle to self-driving technology. Rosner recently slashed his price target on Tesla&#8217;s stock from $189 to $123, indicating a potential downside of around 15% over the next year.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38346954/trump-in-hot-seat-in-hush-money-case-prosecutors-seek-deep-dive-into-ex-presidents-alleged-misconduc?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump In Hot Seat In Hush-Money Case, Prosecutors Seek Deep Dive Into Ex-President&#8217;s Alleged Misconduct And Manipulation</a>
However, it is crucial to understand that the inverse movement of these stocks to Tesla&#8217;s does not imply causation or guarantee future returns or price action patterns. Church &amp; Dwight is the only stock that showed an inverse correlation to Tesla both in March and last week.
Why It Matters: This shift in stock performance comes in the wake of Tesla&#8217;s recent decisions. The company recently laid off its U.S. marketing team, with CEO Elon Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38370123/elon-musk-admits-tesla-ads-were-far-too-generic-after-laying-off-us-marketing-team-couldve-been-any">stating that the team&#8217;s ads </a>were &#8220;far too generic.&#8221; This move was part of a 10% company-wide layoff.
Additionally, Tesla has significantly reduced the price of its full self-driving (FSD) driver assistance software. Less than a year ago, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38351810/tesla-fsd-is-now-nearly-50-cheaper-than-when-elon-musk-called-it-very-low-just-under-a-year-ago">Musk considered $15,000 a low price for FSD</a>. However, the price has since been cut by about 50%. This price reduction could be a factor in the company&#8217;s shifting focus towards self-driving technology.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38356833/liz-cheney-says-trump-doing-everything-possible-to-postpone-jan-6-case-beyond-election-deep-flaws-in?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liz Cheney Says Trump &#8216;Doing Everything Possible&#8217; To Postpone Jan. 6 Case Beyond Election: &#8216;Deep Flaws In Character&#8230;Make Him Unfit To Serve As President&#8217;</a>
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EBAY

TSLA

When Tesla Dips, These Six S&P 500 Stocks Including eBay, Walmart And Wells Fargo Often Soar: Analysis

J.P. Morgan&nbsp;analyst Cory A Carpenter reiterated an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ROKU/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">Overweight rating</a>&nbsp;on the shares of&nbsp;Roku Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>).
Roku is slated to report first-quarter FY24 earnings&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">on Thursday, April 24.</a>
There is often noise in the scatter market ahead of the Upfronts (&amp; re-setting of prices). Still, the analyst is yet to see evidence of meaningful scatter improvement, and thus, the analyst noted that the first-quarter revenue upside is likely to mirror that of the fourth quarter (3% beat) vs. Roku&#8217;s 9% average beat from 3Q22-3Q23.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38338642" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roku&#8217;s Analysts Are Changing Their Forecasts On The Stock &#8211; Here&#8217;s Why</a>
The analyst noted Roku is likely to guide second-quarter Platform revenue to about 10% Y/Y (vs. 13% guide in first-quarter), with the potential for further deceleration in the third quarter.
The analyst noted the biggest opportunity to re-accelerate Platform revenue is for Roku to improve ad fill rates that are estimated to be at a historically low ~40%.
The analyst recognizes that investors are skeptical in a revenue re-acceleration into potential CPM compression and&nbsp;Walmart Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) /&nbsp;Vizio Holding Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZIO#NYSE">VZIO</a>) merger.
Also See:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/37246387" rel="noreferrer noopener">VIZIO Faces Analyst Downgrades Amid Walmart Acquisition, Impact On Roku</a>
While the analyst is tactically cautious about first-quarter earnings, it is prudent to remain positive on the secular growth of connected TV &amp; Roku&#8217;s longer-term monetization opportunity.&nbsp;
The catalyst path after first-quarter earnings, according to the analyst, includes Upfronts, with Roku&#8217;s presentation on April 30, WMT/VZIO regulatory updates, with the Hart-Scott-Rodino expiry on April 29, and potential FTC second request, and Roku guiding to fourth-quarter Platform revenue <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance">re-acceleration at third-quarter earnings.</a>
Price Action: ROKU shares are trading higher by 2.04% at $58.06 at the last check Monday.
Photo via Shutterstock

Roku Investor Sentiment Decidedly Negative Into Earnings, Says Analyst

<h4>Key Takeaways:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Sun Art lost 1.7 billion yuan in its latest fiscal year, as it tries to overhaul its business in the face of competition from grocers with stronger online components</li>
<li>The loss owed largely to store closure-related charges and the company&rsquo;s falling average value per transaction&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
By Lau Chi Hang
When Hong Kongers rush across the border to shop at Sam&rsquo;s Club Shenzhen on weekends, leading Mainland hypermarket chain RT-Mart can only look on with envy. Its parent,&nbsp;Sun Art Retail Group Ltd., issued a sudden&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0412/2024041201113.pdf">profit warning</a>&nbsp;this month, saying it tumbled into the red during its latest fiscal year through March 2024 to the tune of a 1.6 billion yuan ($220 million) loss for the year, reversing a slight 78 million yuan profit the previous year.
The massive loss mainly stemmed from charges related to store closures, as well as impairments on its fixed assets and goodwill. Excluding those impairment losses, the net loss totaled between 600 million yuan and 700 million yuan, mainly due to business restructuring costs and a decrease in the average value per transaction caused by less stocking up on goods by its customers at their homes.
<h3>Parade Of Store Closures</h3>
Sun Art said it would close long-term loss-making stores and consider selling non-performing assets, while continuing to focus on its extensive layout in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Shandong Peninsula and other regions where it operates. The company still holds sufficient projected cash flow to fully fund its future business development and fend off market competition, it said.
Sun Art&rsquo;s RT-Mart stores were once a leader in China&rsquo;s grocery realm, offering a wide array of goods in their massive, brightly lit stores to generations who grew up doing much of their shopping in traditional wet markets. But the business model looks quite obsolete in China&rsquo;s current grocery landscape dominated by online companies and offline shops that still allow customers to purchase orders online.&nbsp;
Sun Art is a living example of how detrimental falling out of sync with the times can be. The company has been downsizing nonstop these last few years. It continued that in its latest fiscal year, dropping its store count to 582 by the end of March 2023, from 602 at the end of the previous fiscal year. Unofficial market statistics show the company continued to close more stores throughout last year, collectively shuttering as many as 13.
&ldquo;I won the battle but lost the war,&rdquo; lamented Sun Art&rsquo;s Chairman Huang Ming-Tuan, alluding to earlier days when RT-Mart was king of China&rsquo;s grocery hill. &ldquo;When you lose the war, you don&rsquo;t even get a chance to say goodbye.&rdquo;
In fact, Sun Art lost 730 million yuan in its fiscal year through March 2022, even though it managed to post the slight profit a year later, before the massive loss for its latest fiscal year. The company is majority owned by&nbsp;Alibaba&nbsp;(9988.HK, BABA.US), but the e-commerce giant&rsquo;s Chairman Joe Tsai said in February it was considering a slow exit from the traditional retail business.
<h3>Sam&rsquo;s Club As Last Man Standing</h3>
While e-commerce is crushing traditional hypermarkets,&nbsp;Walmart&rsquo;s&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>) Sam&rsquo;s Club has become one of the last men standing among brick-and-mortar supermarket operators in China with its popular warehouse-style stores and paid membership model. Sam&rsquo;s U.S. rival&nbsp;Costco&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cost#NASDAQ">COST</a>) has also done well in China using a similar model, though it only has six stores in the market, most in the Yangtze Delta area.
Walmart China, which also operates its namesake Walmart stores, pocketed revenues of 107 billion yuan in 2022, with 61% of that from Sam&rsquo;s Club stores. Walmart&rsquo;s China sales reached 28.8 billion yuan in the fourth quarter of last year, up 11.3% year-on-year, all thanks to the continued growth of Sam&rsquo;s Club and e-commerce, the U.S. retail giant previous said.
The strong performances for Sam&rsquo;s Club and Costco encouraged Sun Art to open its own first paid membership store, M Club, in the city of Yangzhou in East China&rsquo;s Jiangsu province last year. Converted from an existing RT-Mart, the store showed some early encouraging progress with more than 50,000 paid members by the end of last September. The company said it plans to convert more stores in Nanjing and Changzhou into M Club stores this year.
To understand why membership stores are thriving, even as hypermarkets sputter, we need to first consider the two business models. Hypermarkets generate revenue from two main sources: the sale of goods, and fees paid by merchants for product placement within stores. As merchant fees are an important income source, hypermarkets often put more focus on product placement within stores, even if that means ignoring consumer preferences. As a result, many stores often become filled with a variety of goods that have little consumer attraction.
<h3>Special Goods&nbsp;At Low Price</h3>
By comparison, Sam&rsquo;s Club differentiates itself from the hypermarkets with its more targeted selection of goods and lower prices. Traditional hypermarkets can easily shelve 20,000 to 30,000 products, even if much of that is for show only. Such goods are highly homogenized and can often be bought almost anywhere. Sam&rsquo;s Club sells a far smaller range of highly selected products, usually around just 3,000 to 4,000, focusing on consumer needs. Many of its items aren&rsquo;t even readily available in other stores.
Sam&rsquo;s Club also has its own house brand, Member&rsquo;s Mark, with about 800 items ranging from daily necessities to baked goods like sweet potato bread, American-style roast chicken, durian cake and Swiss rolls. The house brand not only helps to differentiate Sam&rsquo;s from its rivals, but also brings higher margins.
As it offers less products and often purchases them in bulk, it&rsquo;s naturally easier for Sam&rsquo;s Club to obtain better prices from its suppliers. Moreover, makers of products sold in hypermarkets often pass on their product placement fees within the stores to consumers. As a result, sometimes their goods sold in hypermarkets are even more expensive than prices charged in smaller grocery stores. Sam&rsquo;s Club stores don&rsquo;t have this issue, which helps to explain why consumers are willing to pay membership fees for a better shopping experience.
While Sam&rsquo;s Club is a warehouse-style supermarket, it also still puts efforts into its store appearance, especially in laying out goods. Moreover, some of its stores offer other perks like large amusement areas for kids.&nbsp;
The success of Sam&rsquo;s Club may be motivating Sun Art to modify its format, though it&rsquo;s coming to the game rather late. Sam&rsquo;s Club has the first-mover advantage with its model, and has already built up exceptional brand awareness. Sun Art&rsquo;s belated transformation, in the end, is just an imitation. And copycats are by no means guaranteed success.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Asia

COST

Faded Sun Art Seeks To Shine Again In China's Changing Grocery Market

Walmart's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) short percent of float has risen 11.39% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 37.14 million shares sold short, which is 0.88% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.59 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Walmart Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713551415_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Walmart has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Walmart's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Walmart's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.62%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Everyone needs solace in stability and development in the current turbulent market climate. These are seven unwavering businesses that are well-known for their fundamental capability to withstand market downturns.&nbsp;



The first one highlights the company&rsquo;s leadership in digital services and advertising. Its cloud and video platforms serve as foundations of revenue development. Meanwhile, the second one offers a solid chance for stability and growth thanks to its diverse investment options and outstanding asset management performance. Further, the third company is at the vanguard of the pharmaceutical business. Strategic acquisitions and a solid pipeline reinforce this. The fourth one&rsquo;s emphasis on its calculated bets on expansion initiatives.



Moreover, the fifth one&rsquo;s smart acquisitions and effective capital deployment support its durability. Indeed, the sixth company&rsquo;s dedication to financial adaptability and efficiency highlights its capacity to overcome market obstacles. Finally, the seventh company&rsquo;s steady top-line growth and wide range of products help to reduce market volatility concerns.



These prospects have been chosen based on the company&rsquo;s demonstrated performance histories, creative approaches and focus on providing value despite economic challenges.



<h2>Alphabet (GOOG,GOOG)</h2>



<a href="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/alphabet_googl.png"><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/alphabet_googl-300x169.png" alt="Alphabet (GOOGL) - Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy"></a>Google Cloud, owned by Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/goog-stock-quote/">GOOG</a>, NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/googl-stock-quote/">GOOGL</a>), is in high demand. In Q1 2024, the <a href="https://abc.xyz/assets/91/b3/3f9213d14ce3ae27e1038e01a0e0/2024q1-alphabet-earnings-release-pdf.pdf">top-line reached&nbsp;$9.6 billion</a>, up 28% year-over-year (YOY). Workspace productivity tools and expansion of Google Cloud Platform (GCP) infrastructure and solutions boost the company&rsquo;s cloud segment. Google Cloud&rsquo;s focus on using artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to improve customer experiences and spur growth highlights Alphabet&rsquo;s lead in AI and cloud computing.



Additionally, with <a href="https://abc.xyz/assets/91/b3/3f9213d14ce3ae27e1038e01a0e0/2024q1-alphabet-earnings-release-pdf.pdf">advertising sales of $8.1 billion</a> in Q1 2024 and solid 21% YOY growth, YouTube remains a major source of revenue. Direct response and brand advertising are the main drivers of YouTube&rsquo;s growing advertising income. Also, the money made from YouTube subscribers, platforms and devices increased significantly, <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4686483-alphabet-inc-goog-q1-2024-earnings-call-transcript">reaching $8.7 billion</a>, an&nbsp;18% YOY increase.&nbsp;



Overall, this expansion demonstrates Alphabet&rsquo;s fundamental ability to derive top-line from sources other than traditional advertising and monetize its video-sharing platform.



<h2>T. Rowe Price (TROW)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/trow-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="T row price (TROW) logo magnified through a lens while displayed on a web browser"><div>Source: Pavel Kapysh / Shutterstock.com</div></div>In Q1 2024, T. Rowe Price&rsquo;s (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/trow-stock-quote/">TROW</a>) total assets under management <a href="https://investors.troweprice.com/static-files/62dfea1d-5aa8-478c-b90c-f41319c77de5">(AUM) were at&nbsp;$1.54 trillion</a>, a considerable 15% YOY boost in Q1 2023. The increase reflects the company&rsquo;s ability to attract and retain investor capital. This&nbsp;reflects investor trust in the company&rsquo;s performance and investing plans.



Over one, three and five years, T. Rowe Price&rsquo;s multi-asset range (including managed payout funds and nearer-dated retirement funds) showed top-quartile performance. Furthermore, newly introduced retirement blend funds fared in the top quartile for one year. <a href="https://investors.troweprice.com/static-files/62dfea1d-5aa8-478c-b90c-f41319c77de5" target="_blank">Over 50%</a>&nbsp;of funds exceed the median for their peer group.&nbsp;



Moreover, there are three, five, and one-year time frames. Similarly, during one, three and five years, more than 50% of the company&rsquo;s fixed-income funds outperformed the median of their peer group. Finally, over the same periods, a number of&nbsp;<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4686688-t-rowe-price-group-inc-trow-q1-2024-earnings-call-transcript">U.S. dollar-hedged&nbsp;foreign bond funds</a>, global multi-sector bonds, credit opportunities and fixed-income Muni Funds performed in the top third of their peer groups.



<h2>Pfizer (PFE)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Pfe1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Here's How Pfizer Stock (and Pharma) Stand to Benefit From Mylan Deal. Best Biotech Stocks to Buy"><div>Source: Manuel Esteban / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Pfizer (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pfe-stock-quote/">PFE</a>) has demonstrated its focus on generating growth by emphasizing five strategic initiatives. Those include establishing cancer leadership,&nbsp;<a href="https://s28.q4cdn.com/781576035/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/Q4-2023-PFE-Earnings-Release.pdf" target="_blank">pipeline innovation</a>, maximizing product performance and cost realignment. Aligning the cost base and streamlining commercial structures are two examples of operational efficiency projects that try to improve resource allocation and profitability.&nbsp;



Furthermore, Pfizer&rsquo;s focus on research and pipeline enrichment is reflected in its record-breaking year for regulatory approvals in 2023. Nine new molecular entities and indications for already-approved medications were approved this year. <a href="https://s28.q4cdn.com/781576035/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/Q4-2023-PFE-Earnings-Release.pdf" target="_blank">The acquisition of Seagen expanded Pfizer&rsquo;s portfolio and boosted</a>&nbsp;its cancer research capabilities. With that, the company aims to release possible blockbuster drugs by 2030.



Finally, Pfizer is ahead in product advancements thanks to its ongoing investment in research and development, demonstrated by regulatory<a href="https://s28.q4cdn.com/781576035/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/PFE-USQ_Transcript_2024-01-30-1.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;approvals</a>&nbsp;and sharp acquisitions. Hence, a solid pipeline supports a continuous flow of new products, retaining a competitive edge and fueling top-line growth.



<h2>Exxon Mobil (XOM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/exxon-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="Exxon Retail Gas Location"><div>Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com</div></div>In Q1 2024, Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/xom-stock-quote/">XOM</a>) made&nbsp;<a href="https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/_2ad256384151c4a7c2bb86443cf5cbcb/exxonmobil/db/2288/22249/earnings_release/1Q24+Earnings+Press+Release+Website.pdf" target="_blank">$5.8 billion</a>&nbsp;in CapEx, demonstrating its continued focus on funding growth efforts. In short, return potential&nbsp;is based&nbsp;on the company&rsquo;s&nbsp;major&nbsp;project investments. These include the expansion of the Beaumont refinery and expansions in Guyana. For instance, Guyana&rsquo;s sixth&nbsp;major&nbsp;development seeks to boost gross production capacity by around 250K barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2027.



Moreover, Exxon Mobil&rsquo;s massive CapEx spending reflects the company&rsquo;s aggressive pursuit of growth possibilities and enhancement of its operating capabilities. By investing in advantaged growth initiatives, the company may continue to use its competitive edge and set itself up for long-term sustainable growth.&nbsp;



Overall, Guyana-based strategic initiatives illustrate Exxon Mobil&rsquo;s focus on high-potential assets that can boost profits and cash flow in the future. Hence, Exxon Mobil&rsquo;s potential for fast expansion depends on&nbsp;<a href="https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/_2ad256384151c4a7c2bb86443cf5cbcb/exxonmobil/db/2404/22267/pdf/1Q24+Earnings+Preliminary+Prepared+Remarks.pdf" target="_blank">strategic investments</a>&nbsp;in advantaged growth initiatives.



<h2>Walmart (WMT)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/wmt-stock-9-300x169.jpg" alt="A photo of the Walmart (WMT) logo on the side of a truck."><div>Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com</div></div>With a focus on optimizing return on investment (ROI) and sharp capital allocation, Walmart (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) has derived market value and sustained growth. The ROI for 2023 increased by&nbsp;<a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/262069030/files/doc_earnings/2024/q4/earnings-result/Earnings-Release-2024-Q4.pdf" target="_blank">2.3% to 15%</a>, indicating a considerable improvement. It also speaks to Walmart&rsquo;s capacity to create greater returns from its invested capital. Indeed, it highlightes its strategic objectives&rsquo; efficacy and operational efficiency.



In addition, the company&rsquo;s CapEx for the year totaled&nbsp;<a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/262069030/files/doc_earnings/2024/q4/earnings-result/Earnings-Release-2024-Q4.pdf" target="_blank">$20.6 billion</a>, or around 3% to 3.5% of revenues. These initiatives have focused on growing digital capabilities, retail remodels, supply chain change, and technology and innovation. Moreover, Walmart concentrates on strategic acquisitions, including the agreement to buy VIZIO. These aim to strengthen its position and propel expansion in&nbsp;important digital commerce and advertising markets.



To sum up, Walmart anticipates the transaction to be accretive to the internal rate of return (IRR) and provide higher returns than the anticipated ROI, notwithstanding the possibility that it could temporarily dilute EPS.



<h2>British American Tobacco (BTI)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bti-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="British American Tobacco logo on a building"><div>Source: DutchMen / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Efforts are ongoing by British American Tobacco (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/bti-stock-quote/">BTI</a>) to minimize expenses, produce savings and improve balance sheet flexibility. This&nbsp;shows the company&rsquo;s focus on financial flexibility and efficiency. With a continual improvement approach, the organization has a history of creating efficiency. And by 2025, the management hopes to save an extra&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bat.com/content/dam/batcom/global/main-nav/investors-and-reporting/results-centre/pdf/FY_2023_Announcement-2.pdf" target="_blank">&pound;1 billion</a>. British American Tobacco had savings of nearly &pound;500 million in 2023 alone, proving its proactive focus on cost control.



Additionally, British American Tobacco&rsquo;s is dedicated to reallocating resources to areas with greater returns. That is demonstrated by its focus on expansion of its geographic presence through calculated withdrawals from non-strategic sectors. Thus, BTI can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bat.com/content/dam/batcom/global/main-nav/investors-and-reporting/results-centre/pdf/FY_2023_Announcement-2.pdf" target="_blank">optimize valuation</a>&nbsp;by redirecting resources toward areas with higher growth prospects and exiting markets with low opportunities for new category growth.



Lastly, with four years in a row of at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bat.com/content/dam/batcom/global/main-nav/investors-and-reporting/results-centre/pdf/FY_2023_Presentation_Transcript.pdf" target="_blank">100% operational</a>&nbsp;cash conversion, British American Tobacco&rsquo;s sharp free cash flow creation highlights its capacity to reward shareholders and maintain financial discipline. Hence, the company&rsquo;s long-term financial goals align with its progressive dividend growth and dedication to giving back surplus capital to shareholders, further increasing returns.



<h2>AbbVie (ABBV)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/abbv1600-300x169.png" alt="Closeup of AbbVie (ABBV) building corporate office, an American biopharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA"><div>Source: Valeriya Zankovych / Shutterstock.com</div></div>AbbVie&rsquo;s (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/abbv-stock-quote/">ABBV</a>) revenue increase from<a href="https://investors.abbvie.com/news-releases/news-release-details/abbvie-reports-first-quarter-2024-financial-results" target="_blank">&nbsp;$18 billion to $55 billion</a>&nbsp;shows a steady, rising trend. This growth results from the company&rsquo;s successful product introductions, expansion initiatives and commercial strategy.&nbsp;



Moreover, ABBV&rsquo;s revenue increase is mainly attributable to its diverse product line, including Qulipta, Rinvoq, Venclexta, Vraylar, Ubrelvy and Skyrizi. Because of this diversity, AbbVie can reduce the&nbsp;risks associated&nbsp;with dependence on a particular product or market sector. Additionally, it allows the business to serve a broader range of therapeutic areas, meeting various patient requirements and market expectations.



Finally, despite obstacles like Humira&rsquo;s loss of exclusivity in the U.S., AbbVie has sustained top-line growth. The ability to overcome such obstacles is a testament to ABBV&rsquo;s operational expertise and strategic insight. The company has maintained top-line growth and reduced the negative effects of patent expirations on its&nbsp;<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4686773-abbvie-inc-abbv-q1-2024-earnings-call-transcript" target="_blank">financial performance</a>&nbsp;by taking a proactive approach to market developments and implementing effective mitigation plans.



As of this writing, Yiannis Zourmpanos held long positions in GOOG, PFE, BTI and ABBV. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Yiannis Zourmpanos is the founder of Yiazou Capital Research, a stock-market research platform designed to elevate the due diligence process through in-depth business analysis.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/7-safe-haven-stocks-that-can-withstand-the-markets-worst-meltdowns/">7 Safe Haven Stocks That Can Withstand the Market&#8217;s Worst Meltdowns</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

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<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-types/dividend-stocks/">Dividend stocks</a> are some of the most reliable investments. These corporations distribute cash flow to their investors. Positive net income is a requirement for sustainable dividends.&nbsp;



Investors can also gauge a corporation&rsquo;s financial health based on dividend hikes. Companies that raise their dividends by 10% or more each year are typically in better positions than companies that only raise their dividends by 3% or less each year.&nbsp;



While dividend income stocks can help investors who want cash flow now, dividend <a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-types/growth-stocks/">growth stocks</a> offer more upside. These stocks usually have lower yields but make up for it with better growth rates and long-term opportunities. These are some of the must-buy dividend stocks to consider when prices plunge.



<h2>Caterpillar (CAT)</h2>



<a href="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/caterpillar_logo.svg.png"><img width="300" height="54" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/caterpillar_logo.svg-300x54.png" alt="An image of the Caterpillar tractor brand logo."></a>Caterpillar&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cat-stock-quote/">CAT</a>) has produced construction equipment for almost 100 years. The company has withstood many economic downturns while delivering value for shareholders. While the company should continue to rise in the long run, it faces short-term hiccups.



Recent setbacks from Q1 2024 can lead to an attractive long-term buying opportunity. Caterpillar reported flat year-over-year revenue in&nbsp;<a href="https://investors.caterpillar.com/news/news-details/2024/Caterpillar-Reports-First-Quarter-2024-Results/default.aspx" target="_blank">Q1 2024</a>,&nbsp;while the company&rsquo;s profit per share jumped from $3.74 to $5.75 year-over-year. That&rsquo;s a 53.7% increase.



Caterpillar also warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/caterpillar-profit-beats-estimates-pricing-103737078.html" target="_blank">sales could slow down</a>&nbsp;in the second quarter. High inflation and elevated interest rates present challenges to the construction industry. However, the industry isn&rsquo;t going anywhere, and Caterpillar is one of the leaders.&nbsp;



The stock has outperformed the market with a 147% gain over the past five years. Shares are in the middle of a correction that has resulted in the P/E ratio dropping to 15.50. The stock currently offers a 1.51% dividend yield and an impressive growth rate. Caterpillar has maintained an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.koyfin.com/company/cat/dividends/#">annualized dividend growth rate of 8.04%</a>&nbsp;over the past decade.



<h2>Walmart (WMT)</h2>



<a href="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/canno-wmt.jpg"><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/canno-wmt-300x169.jpg" alt="An image of a Canoo, Inc. (GOEV) Walmart electric delivery vehicle"></a>Walmart&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) is positioned to benefit from an economic slowdown. The company&rsquo;s retail stores are filled with affordable products that will attract more consumers as budgets tighten. Walmart is capitalizing on e-commerce to expand its market share and cater to more customers.



The company reported 23% year-over-year global e-commerce growth in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/262069030/files/doc_earnings/2024/q4/earnings-result/Earnings-Release-2024-Q4.pdf">Q4 FY24</a>. E-commerce contributed to the company&rsquo;s 5.7% year-over-year overall net sales growth.



Walmart is also working on its advertising segment, which could lead to higher margins. It&rsquo;s a small but growing segment within the company. The retailer&rsquo;s advertising business grew by 28% year-over-year to reach $3.4 billion. That&rsquo;s a small slice of the company&rsquo;s $648.1 billion consolidated revenue, but Walmart is committed to this segment. The firm recently acquired Vizio to bolster its advertising segment and generate higher profit margins.



Walmart shares are up by 13% year-to-date and have gained 77% over the past five years. The stock has been roughly flat since the end of February.&nbsp;



<h2>American Express (AXP)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/american_express_axp1600-300x169.jpg" alt="the American Express logo etched into wood"><div>Source: First Class Photography / Shutterstock.com</div></div>American Express&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/axp-stock-quote/">AXP</a>) has consistently outperformed the stock market. It&rsquo;s up 25% year-to-date and has almost doubled over the past five years. The credit and debit card firm is less vulnerable to a sharp pullback thanks to its 19.5 P/E ratio, strong financials, and long-term growth plan.&nbsp;



However, any broader macroeconomic hurdles can result in a decline, especially if consumer spending goes down. Even if people spend less money, they will still use their credit and debit cards for purchases.



<a href="https://s26.q4cdn.com/747928648/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/Q1-2024-Earnings-Press-Release.pdf" target="_blank">Q1 2024 revenue</a>&nbsp;increased by 11% year-over-year while net income rallied by 34% year-over-year. Higher profit margins can support long-term growth for the company. American Express is well-run, and leadership expects to generate 9% to 11% yearly revenue growth beyond 2026. It also expects EPS growth to be in the mid-teens each year during that same stretch. American Express has the makings of a solid long-term stock, and it will become more attractive on any pullback.



On the date of publication, Marc Guberti did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the&nbsp;InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines.</a>
<div>Marc Guberti is a finance freelance writer at InvestorPlace.com who hosts the Breakthrough Success Podcast. He has contributed to several publications, including the U.S. News &amp; World Report, Benzinga, and Joy Wallet.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/stock-market-crash-alert-3-must-buy-dividend-stocks-when-prices-plunge/">Stock Market Crash Alert: 3 Must-Buy Dividend Stocks When Prices Plunge</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Stock Market Crash Alert: 3 Must-Buy Dividend Stocks When Prices Plunge

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Corrections and crashes test the resolve of investors who claim to be in it for the long haul. Some investors flee from the stock market upon any distress,&nbsp;while&nbsp;others buckle down and wait for the storm to pass. Storms will come for any investor, but there are ways to minimize the damage. Some investments&nbsp;are built&nbsp;to endure economic slumps, and some assets can even thrive during downturns. Higher inflation and elevated interest rates are top concerns; these three stocks for a market crash can&nbsp;provide&nbsp;insulation.



<h2>Procter &amp; Gamble (PG)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/shutterstock_1073950868-300x169.png" alt="Procter &amp; Gamble Union Distribution Center. P&amp;G is an American Multinational Consumer Goods Company"><div>Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Consumers&nbsp;get tighter with&nbsp;their spending during economic downturns.&nbsp;They shy away from luxuries and look for the most affordable goods. However, there are a few essential products that people can&rsquo;t remove from their budgets as easily.&nbsp;Procter &amp; Gamble&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pg-stock-quote/">PG</a>) produces many consumer goods that people have been buying for decades.



The company&rsquo;s history outdates us all,&nbsp;as&nbsp;it&rsquo;s been around since 1837. Procter &amp; Gamble has been paying out dividends for&nbsp;133 consecutive years,&nbsp;including&nbsp;67&nbsp;straight&nbsp;years of dividend hikes. Procter &amp; Gamble has maintained an&nbsp;annualized dividend <a href="https://www.koyfin.com/company/pg/dividends/" target="_blank">growth rate of 4.57%</a>&nbsp;over the past decade. Shares currently yield 2.50%.&nbsp;



The company&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pginvestor.com/financial-reporting/press-releases/news-details/2024/PG-Announces-Fiscal-Year-2024-Third-Quarter-Results/default.aspx" target="_blank">Q3 FY24</a>&nbsp;results were suitable given the&nbsp;company&rsquo;s maturity and investors&rsquo; expectations.&nbsp;Net sales&nbsp;grew by 1% year-over-year,&nbsp;while&nbsp;diluted EPS and core EPS&nbsp;rose by 11% year-over-year.&nbsp;



Procter &amp; Gamble has so far outperformed the S&amp;P 500 with an 8% year-to-date gain. However, the stock&nbsp;typically&nbsp;underperforms while producing respectable returns. Shares are up by 52% over the past five years.



<h2>Walmart (WMT)</h2>



<a href="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/canno-wmt.jpg"><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/canno-wmt-300x169.jpg" alt="An image of a Canoo, Inc. (GOEV) Walmart electric delivery vehicle"></a>Walmart&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) is another reliable destination for people who want to save money. Economic challenges can bring more people to Walmart locations and aid in the retailer&rsquo;s quest to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-21/walmart-wmt-targets-wealthier-shoppers-with-high-end-products#" target="_blank">attract higher&nbsp;net-worth&nbsp;buyers</a>.&nbsp;



The retail giant offers many products&nbsp;but&nbsp;is&nbsp;also the&nbsp;biggest grocery retailer in the United States.&nbsp;Walmart&nbsp;generates&nbsp;more than half of its total sales&nbsp;from its grocery division.&nbsp;People still have to eat&nbsp;and&nbsp;will turn to more affordable companies for their food during economic slowdowns.



While the appeal during economic slowdowns is apparent, Walmart can still deliver solid returns during bullish cycles. The stock has gained 77% over the past five years,&nbsp;and&nbsp;analysts believe&nbsp;the&nbsp;company has more room to run.&nbsp;Analysts&nbsp;rated the stock as a &ldquo;Strong Buy&rdquo; and&nbsp;projected&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/wmt/forecast" target="_blank">9% upside</a>.&nbsp;The highest price target of $75.99 per share suggests the stock can gain an additional 27% from current levels.&nbsp;



<h2>Costco (COST)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cost-stock-2-300x169.jpg" alt="Costco logo on a sign on a Costco store."><div>Source: ARTYOORAN / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Costco&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cost-stock-quote/">COST</a>) is an attractive pick for reasons similar to Walmart. People can go to the wholesaler to save money on various products, including the essentials. However, Costco has outperformed Walmart by nearly tripling over the past five years. Costco shares are also up by 12% year-to-date.



The company is still growing. Costco reported solid&nbsp;<a href="https://investor.costco.com/news/news-details/2024/Costco-Wholesale-Corporation-Reports-March-Sales-Results-and-Announces-an-Increase-in-Its-Quarterly-Cash-Dividend/default.aspx" target="_blank">March sales results</a>,&nbsp;which&nbsp;indicate a 7.7% year-over-year sales increase for the five weeks that ended April 7, 2024. E-commerce sales increased by 28.3% year-over-year during the period. The company currently operates 876 warehouses, which gives it a competitive moat.&nbsp;



Costco also announced a dividend hike that will raise the quarterly payout from $1.02 to $1.16 per share. It&rsquo;s a 13.7% year-over-year increase. Analysts believe the stock can extend its gains. The consensus rating is a &ldquo;Strong Buy&rdquo; among 25 analysts. The average price target suggests an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/cost/forecast" target="_blank">8% upside</a>, but&nbsp;more can be&nbsp;in store. Costco shares can soar as high as 19.3% from current levels to reach the highest price target of $870 per share.



On the&nbsp;date of publication, Marc Guberti did not have (either&nbsp;directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the&nbsp;InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Marc Guberti is a finance freelance writer at InvestorPlace.com who hosts the Breakthrough Success Podcast. He has contributed to several publications, including the U.S. News &amp; World Report, Benzinga, and Joy Wallet.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/bracing-for-a-market-crash-3-stocks-that-could-thrive-in-an-economic-slump/">Bracing for a Market Crash? 3 Stocks That Could Thrive in an Economic Slump</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Bracing for a Market Crash? 3 Stocks That Could Thrive in an Economic Slump

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Few investment strategies have performed as well for as long as dividend investing. Numerous studies show that buying stocks that have initiated a dividend and then increased it over time beat all other stocks on the market. That&rsquo;s why Dividend Aristocrat stocks are the cream of the crop.



To <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/7-stocks-to-buy-on-the-brink-of-becoming-dividend-royalty/">become dividend ro</a><a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/7-stocks-to-buy-on-the-brink-of-becoming-dividend-royalty/https://investorplace.com/2024/04/7-stocks-to-buy-on-the-brink-of-becoming-dividend-royalty/">yalty</a>, companies need to be members of the S&amp;P 500 and to have hiked their payout for 25 consecutive years or more. It would seem a relatively simple task but the rarity of it shows why these stocks are the elite. Of the thousands of stocks on the market, only 67 companies have passed the test.



While the list is always evolving as even some Dividend Aristocrat stocks have <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/dividend-danger-zone-3-aristocrats-on-the-brink-of-a-payout-cut/">trouble maintaining the pace</a>, these companies tend to be profitable, successful businesses that have proven their worth over many business and economic cycles. They have been through war and famine, recessions and depressions, and continue to reward their shareholders by sharing their success.



The following seven Dividend Aristocrat stocks pay some of the highest yields, too. That&rsquo;s not always a good thing, as it could indicate issues. But let&rsquo;s take a closer look at these royals and see if they are worth an investment.



<h2>Kenvue (KVUE)&nbsp;</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/kenvue-kvue-stock-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Kenvue (KVUE) logo displayed on smartphone with company website in background"><div>Source: shutterstock.com/T. Schneider</div></div>One of the newest members of the club, Kenvue (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/kvue-stock-quote/">KVUE</a>) inherited its Dividend Aristocrat membership card from its former parent, Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/jnj-stock-quote/">JNJ</a>). The pharmaceutical stock spun off its slower-growing consumer products business so that it could more narrowly focus on its healthcare operations. The separation allows the market to better value the consumer products business on its own merits.



So far, that valuation <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-dividend-kings-down-11-youll-regret-not-buying-on-the-dip/">hasn&rsquo;t been all that attractive</a>. Kenvue stock is down 12% in 2024 and 30% from when it began trading independently last year. The company is the world&rsquo;s largest pure-play consumer health products company with name brands such as Band-Aid, Listerine and Tylenol in its stable. It generates some $15 billion in annual sales.



Kenvue stock is down as it saw sales fall in the fourth quarter after discontinuing less popular product lines, seeing customers reduce inventories and experiencing softer-than-expected results from its skin health and beauty division. That <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/kenvue-layoffs-2024-what-to-know-about-the-latest-neutrogena-job-cuts/">led to layoffs</a> in the Neutrogena business.



With product rationalization behind it and an ability to pass on costs to consumers in an inflationary environment, Kenvue remains well-positioned to grow. Its quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share yields 4.2% annually.



<h2>Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)&nbsp;</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/reit1600b-300x169.jpg" alt="Image of a man holding a key chain with a key and house attached to the key ring over a office desk in the background"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/frt-stock-quote/">FRT</a>) is one of the oldest real estate investment trusts (REIT) in the U.S. It also has the longest track record of any REIT for dividend increases. Federal Realty has increased its payout for 56 consecutive years and the dividend yields 4.3% annually.



Shares of the REIT are essentially flat in 2024 though they are up 20% from their 52-week low. Because Federal Realty Trust focuses on retail properties, typically along both coasts, it is sensitive to interest rate increases. Inflation&rsquo;s <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/inflation-is-not-going-away-2-stocks-that-will-thrive-1-that-will-dive/">refusal to go away</a> may now cause the Federal Reserve to delay cutting rates, which would continue serving as a drag on the REIT&rsquo;s performance. Still, many of its properties are in defensive industries like grocery stores and pharmacies that ought to mitigate the worst impact of rising costs.



The other feature of Federal Realty&rsquo;s portfolio is its position in markets with high barriers to entry, such as New York, Boston and San Francisco. But they also exhibit high demand. Because only 10% of its residential properties have tenants whose demographics have customers under $75,000 in annual income, FRT can absorb a recession without negatively impacting its business. This REIT should weather any storm.



<h2>T. Rowe Price (TROW)&nbsp;</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/trow-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="T row price (TROW) logo magnified through a lens while displayed on a web browser"><div>Source: Pavel Kapysh / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Global money management firm T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/trow-stock-quote/">TROW</a>) has been an investor favorite for years as it has a 37-year history of raising its payout, which stands at 4.3% annually.&nbsp;



The stock has fluctuated over time as it suffered from cash outflows from its funds. However, assets under management (AUM) grew to $1.5 trillion in the latest quarter and net outflows of $8 billion during the period were <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1113169/000111316924000011/trow-20240426.htm">about half of what they were</a> last year. With fewer redemptions and higher sales, business is improving significantly for T. Rowe Price.



Over the past decade, the financial stock has increased its dividend at a healthy 10.9% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR), which explains its popularity. While the shaky economy had many investors worried it would continue to see net outflows of funds, confidence has returned and T. Rowe Price&rsquo;s dividend is certainly secure.&nbsp;



<h2>Franklin Resources (BEN)&nbsp;</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ben-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="A magnifying glass zooms in on the website for Franklin Resources (BEN)."><div>Source: Pavel Kapysh / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Another financial stock, Franklin Resources (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ben-stock-quote/">BEN</a>) is also <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/38777/000003877724000005/ben-20240129.htm">seeing increases in AUM</a>, with totals hitting $1.45 trillion. Its outflows also declined to $5 billion.&nbsp;



Better known by the Franklin Templeton family of funds it owns, Franklin Resources is subject to many of the same market forces as its peers. Rising markets cause an influx in AUM while declining ones cause assets to fall. That volatility has led the money manager to increasingly pursue private market investments, which are less susceptible to fluctuation.



Over the years Franklin Resources made numerous acquisitions in the space that has sharpened its presence in the private investment field. Among them were Benefit Street Partners, Clarion Partners, and Lexington Partners. The latter tends to buy positions in private equity funds. All three alternative managers, though, <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/38777/000003877724000005/ben-20240129.htm">saw robust growth in the first quarter</a> with combined net inflows totaling $3.8 billion. It promises to be an avenue of significant growth that will support Franklin Resources&rsquo; dividend that yields 5%.



<h2>Amcor (AMCR)&nbsp;</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/bottle-packaging-amcor-amcr-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="green beer bottles in a factory line, ready to be sealed. represents packaging companie"><div>Source: shutterstock.com/zedspider</div></div>Food and beverage packaging giant Amcor (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amcr-stock-quote/">AMCR</a>) is another victim of government policies affecting inflation and interest rates. Shares are down 7% this year and 16% over the last 12 months as consumer spending was rattled by rising costs and prices. Still, food and beverages are also a defensive industry because we all need to eat and drink.&nbsp;



Yet Amcor was <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1748790/000174879024000004/amcr-20240206.htm">surprised by lower than expected volumes</a> in the most recent quarter as its customers chose to draw down inventories instead of buying more. That could have been on the hope better conditions would materialize, which doesn&rsquo;t appear to be happening now. It likely explains why Amcor started to see business turn up again earlier this year and it expects momentum to continue growing going forward.



Like Kenvue, Amcor had a sort of <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/from-spare-change-to-stock-market-gains-3-stocks-to-buy-with-your-last-10/">backdoor entry</a> into the Dividend Aristocrat club. It acquired Bemis in 2019, which had been an Aristocrat since 2008 (Bemis had paid a dividend every year since 1922). The dividend, though, yields 5.6% annually. It has a 10-year CAGR of increases of just 2.4%, which means that with the ravages of inflation, investors are actually getting less in dividend payments than they were previously.



<h2>Realty Income (O) </h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/realty1600-300x169.jpg" alt="realty income logo highlighted by a magnifying glass on a web browser"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>Another REIT on the list, Realty Income (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/o-stock-quote/">O</a>) is more unique because it pays its dividend monthly. In fact, it calls itself &ldquo;The Monthly Dividend Company.&rdquo; While dozens of REITs now pay dividends monthly, it was among the first to do so. The REIT notes that since its founding in 1969, it has made 646 consecutive monthly dividends. More importantly, it has increased the payout an amazing 124 times since listing on the NYSE in 1994 and has hiked the dividend for 109 straight quarters. Over the past decade, the payout has risen at a 7.7% CAGR. The dividend yields 5.8%.



Realty Income&nbsp;has a portfolio of over 15,450 properties with over 272 million square feet of mostly retail space. Grocery stores are the largest tenants in its properties with Walmart (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>), Kroger (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/kr-stock-quote/">KR</a>) and Costco (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cost-stock-quote/">COST</a>) being the top three. Convenience stores and dollar stores are the next two largest sectors, and all of them provide resistance to recessionary pressures.



<h2>3M (MMM) </h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mmm1600g-300x169.jpg" alt="3M logo on top of a corporate building. MMM stock"><div>Source: JPstock / Shutterstock.com</div></div>The highest yielding Dividend Aristocrat stock is industrial conglomerate 3M (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mmm-stock-quote/">MMM</a>) whose payout yields 6.4% annually. It is often pointed to as the royalist <a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/10/get-paid-to-invest-3-dividend-stocks-to-buy-for-income/">most likely to cut</a> its payout next.



Facing billions of dollars in legal liabilities from lawsuits surrounding faulty earplugs for the military as so-called &ldquo;forever chemicals&rdquo; <a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/12/3-of-the-highest-yielding-dogs-of-the-dow-to-buy-for-2024/">polluting drinking water</a>, the dividend stock could see all available cash flows sucked dry by the payments. Almost three-quarters of 3M&rsquo;s free cash flow goes to support the dividend, which it has paid for over 100 years and increased for 64 consecutive years. It just raised it again to $1.51 per share, but because it was by just a penny, it also means investors are receiving less money overall due to inflation.



The industrial conglomerate&rsquo;s performance improved at the end of last year and its stock has bounced nearly 30% off its lows. If it could settle the legal liabilities without gutting its bank account, there may be a chance for a significant turnaround for this Dividend Aristocrat stock.



On the date of publication, Rich Duprey held a LONG position in JNJ, BEN, AMCR, O and MMM stock. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com <a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Rich Duprey has written about stocks and investing for the past 20 years. His articles have appeared on Nasdaq.com, The Motley Fool, and Yahoo! Finance, and he has been referenced by U.S. and international publications, including MarketWatch, Financial Times, Forbes, Fast Company, USA Today, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Cheddar News, The Boston Globe, L&rsquo;Express, and numerous other news outlets.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/7-dividend-aristocrats-paying-sky-high-yields-april-2024/">7 Dividend Aristocrats Paying Sky-High Yields: April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

7 Dividend Aristocrats Paying Sky-High Yields: April 2024

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