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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.

Roku stock

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Roku&#39;s Q1 earnings exceeded expectations and provided upbeat guidance, leading analysts to lower price targets but maintain positive outlook.

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

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Two REITs That Just Crushed Earnings Estimates And Guidance

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Biden&#39;s Old &#39;0% Inflation&#39; Comment Comes Back To Bite As McKinsey Says New Biggest Splurge For US Consumers Is Groceries

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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

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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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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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.

Movers

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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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

VZIO

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.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

(WMT) - Analyzing Walmart's Short Interest

Walmart Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) backed&nbsp;Ibotta, a digital marketing company, anticipates&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1538379/000162828024016660/ibotta424b4finalprospectus.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">raising&nbsp;</a>$577.3 million with a valuation of around $2.7 billion after pricing its initial public offering on Wednesday.
Ibotta plans to offer 6.56 million shares of its Class A common stock at $88 per share, above its <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1538379/000162828024016279/ibottas-1a2.htm">earlier </a>price range of $76-$84 per share.
The company is selling 2.50 million shares of its Class A common stock and the selling stockholders are offering an additional 4.06 million shares of Class A common stock.
The surge in interest surrounding artificial intelligence and optimism regarding a potential recovery in the U.S. IPO market, fueled by prospects of an economic rebound, have prompted more technology firms to consider entering the IPO domain, reported Reuters.
The company was incorporated in 2011 as Zing Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation. In 2012, it changed its name to Ibotta, Inc.
Ibotta will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol &#8220;IBTA,&#8221; with trading set to commence on Thursday.
Price Action: WMT shares are trading higher by 0.08% at $59.70 in premarket on the last check Thursday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image: Shutterstock/ MaximP

IPOs

Media

Walmart-Backed Digital Marketing Company Ibotta Set For IPO Amid AI Buzz: Details

Amazon.com Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) has announced plans to significantly expand its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34735289/amazons-just-walk-out-technology-enters-clothing-retail-what-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8220;Just Walk Out&#8221;</a>&nbsp;cashierless shopping technology in third-party stores throughout the year, aiming to more than double its current deployment from 140 stores.&nbsp;
This technology lets customers shop without waiting at a register. They scan an app to enter and automatically pay for their items as they leave.&nbsp;
Amazon clarified that the receipt generation process is automated through computer vision algorithms, though human reviewers are involved in enhancing accuracy, Reuters reports.
The decision to extend Walk Out technology to more external locations, including stadiums and Hudson News at airports, contrasts with Amazon&#8217;s strategy for its Fresh grocery stores.&nbsp;
Here, Amazon plans to replace the technology with &#8220;smart&#8221; shopping carts that log purchases and charge customers upon exit, noting that Fresh customers tend to spend more when using these carts.
The move is part of Amazon&#8217;s efforts to compete with retail giants like&nbsp;Walmart Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), especially after it acquired Whole Foods in 2017 for over $13 billion.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/18083136/newplot-17.png" alt="" class="wp-image-297825" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/18083136/newplot-17.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/18083136/newplot-17-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
Analysts noted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38075961/amazon-adapts-grocery-game-plan-analyst-sees-growth-with-smart-carts-and-automated-fulfillment-cente" rel="noreferrer noopener">the company&#8217;s shift</a>&nbsp;from Walk Out technology to Dash Carts in most Fresh stores due to the former&#8217;s limitations in larger formats.&nbsp;
They highlighted Amazon&#8217;s senior VP of grocery stores reporting a positive customer response to the real-time spending feedback provided by Dash Carts, unlike the delayed receipt issue with &#8216;Just Walk Out.&#8217;&nbsp;
Analysts also flagged Amazon revamping its Fresh locations with more appealing designs and customer-centric features, including coffee shops, as part of its evolving grocery strategy.&nbsp;
Analysts noted that smart carts could offer additional advertising revenue opportunities for Amazon.
Amazon stock gained over 77% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Consumer Discretionary&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) and&nbsp;ProShares Online Retail ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONLN#NYSE">ONLN</a>).
Price Action:&nbsp;AMZN shares traded higher by 0.29% at $181.80 premarket on the last check Thursday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Tech

ONLN

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Amazon Aims to Outdo Walmart's Retail Game, Boosts Cashierless Tech in Stores

Canoo Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOEV#NASDAQ">GOEV</a>) operates in a segment where even the likes of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38072667/tesla-stock-drops-on-weak-delivery-numbers-and-it-may-fall-more">reporting weak delivery numbers</a>.
The company has repositioned itself and the market appears to have "lost sight of the magnitude of the opportunity," according to Benchmark.
The Canoo Analyst: Michael Legg initiated coverage of Canoo with a Buy rating and a price target of $5.
The Canoo Thesis: The company faces limited competition in the Class 1 and Class 2 commercial fleet segment, as larger OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) are more focused on the consumer segment, Legg said in the initiation note.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
Canoo has built a sales pipeline of $3 billion to date, which includes $750 million in contracted orders with clients like Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), the United States Postal Service and the US military, he added.
"According to Global Market Insights, the light duty truck market exceeds $15 trillion globally that should provide expanding market opportunities as the long-term benefits of EV's, combined with government incentives, fuel adoption," the analyst wrote.
"A low single-digit share of the forecasted EV light commercial market suggests a multi-billion revenue opportunity for GOEV by 2030," Legg added.
GOEV Price Action: Shares of Canoo were up 3.4% to $3.03 at the time of publication on Wednesday.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38295633/real-estate-stocks-fall-as-mortgage-rates-rise-to-4-month-highs-inflation-is-provin">Real Estate Stocks Fall As Mortgage Rates Rise To 4-Month Highs: &#8216;Inflation Is Proving Tougher To Bring Down&#8217;</a>
Photo: Canoo

Initiation

GOEV

Canoo Has 'A Multi-Billion Revenue Opportunity,' Says Bullish Analyst

Reported Earlier, Walmart Teams Up With The Jessica Simpson Collection To Add Boho-Chic Styles To Its Expanding Fashion Line-Up

Evercore ISI Group analyst Greg Melich maintains Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $67 to $66.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Outperform on Walmart, Lowers Price Target to $66

As the retail landscape evolves amidst changing consumer behaviors and economic shifts, investors seek guidance on navigating <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/retail">this dynamic sector</a>.
The JPMorgan Retail Round-Up Conference 2024 shed light on key themes shaping the retail landscape this year, including:
<ul>
<li>Stable U.S. consumer backdrop</li>
<li>Resurgence in denim and activewear categories </li>
<li>Renewed focus on consumer value. </li>
</ul>
Amidst these trends, Christopher Horvers, head of U.S. Broadlines and Hardlines Retail at JPMorgan, presented compelling stock picks poised for growth in the retail sector.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">1. Wayfair: Offers Upside From Sales, Margins</h1>
Horvers expressed optimism about Wayfair Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/W#NYSE">W</a>), the leading online specialty retailer. He attributed its potential for growth to the improving demand for home goods. 
With sales expected to rise alongside the resurgence in home-related purchases, Wayfair stood to benefit from its dominance in the online home furnishings category. 
Horvers noted the company&#8217;s focus on cost optimization post-Covid-19 pandemic. &#8220;We see upside not only from sales but also from margins,&#8221; said Hoervers.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">2. Lowe&#8217;s: Outdoor Patio Demand To See Acute Uplift</h1>
Horvers highlighted Lowe&#8217;s Companies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOW#NYSE">LOW</a>) as another promising stock pick, particularly as the outdoor spring season kicks off. Anticipating increased demand for outdoor patio products, driven partly by pent-up demand from the Covid pandemic era, Horvers emphasized Lowe&#8217;s exposure to seasonal categories. 
&#8220;DIY is 75% of their business. A big chunk of that is driven off these seasonal categories,&#8221; highlighted Horvers. Lowe&#8217;s is well-positioned to capitalize on the anticipated uplift in demand for outdoor home improvement products. 
&#8220;We also think that the outdoor patio area will see an acute uplift this spring &#8230; Lowe&#8217;s is acutely more exposed to this trend than Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>).&#8221;
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">3. Best Buy: Back-To-School Important Catalyst</h1>
Horvers identified Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBY#NYSE">BBY</a>) as an attractive investment opportunity, especially considering the potential for a turnaround in demand for big-ticket items with long replacement cycles. &#8220;Companies like Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Target Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) and Home Depot are still seeing headwinds,&#8221; he noted.
Noting the uptick in demand for laptops and TVs, Horvers suggested back-to-school season could serve as a catalyst for Best Buy. With its dominant market position and conservative margins, Best Buy presents an appealing value proposition within the retail sector.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37847692/best-buy-analyst-turns-bullish-after-meetings-with-management">Best Buy Analyst Turns Bullish After Meetings With Management</a>
As the retail landscape develops amidst shifting consumer preferences and economic conditions, J.P. Morgan&#8217;s retail stock picks offer investors opportunities for potential growth and value. 
Wayfair, Lowe&#8217;s and Best Buy are positioned to capitalize on emerging trends and market dynamics. Investors may find these stocks worthy of consideration in their portfolios. 
However, as with any investment, thorough research and analysis are essential to making informed decisions in the ever-changing retail sector.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/03/37749867/dollar-generals-turnaround-seems-underway-ceo-return-brings-stability-these-analysts-look-at-q4-res">Dollar General&#8217;s Turnaround Seems Underway, CEO Return Brings Stability: These Analysts Look At Q4 Results, Outlook</a>
Image was created using artificial intelligence MidJourney

Long Ideas

Retail Resilience: Wayfair, Lowe's, Best Buy — JPMorgan's Top Stock Picks

Residents in Texas can experience affordable and integrated healthcare services all in one convenient location with the opening of three new Walmart Health centers in Pearland (10505 Broadway St, Pearland, TX), Sugar Land (345 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX) and Tomball (22605 Tomball Pkwy, Tomball, TX). These locations are the first of 18 new Walmart Health centers coming to Texas this year, complementing the existing four sites in the state.

Walmart Health Reports Expansion In Texas With 18 New Locations

Nothing strikes more fear in the hearts of stock market bears than two simple words: short squeeze. Like a tsunami, a short squeeze can wreak havoc on unexpectant bears as they frantically rush to cover short positions, inadvertently driving prices even higher in the process. The parabolic surge is the stuff of dreams for bulls as they see account values spike with joy. Meme stocks thrived on short squeezes in 2021.
The formula for a short squeeze includes a high short interest, a small float and a surprise catalyst or two. Here are 3 stocks with the potential for the proverbial spark in a kerosene-soaked warehouse-like short squeeze to trigger.
<h2>Symbotic </h2>
Symbotic Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sym#NASDAQ">SYM</a>) is a robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) company specializing in warehouse automation. The business services sector company designs and constructs automated warehouse robot systems to enhance efficiency and productivity. It embodies three secular tailwinds: AI, automation and Internet-of-Things (IoT). It counts retail giants Walmart Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>), Target Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tgt#NYSE">TGT</a>) and Albertsons Cos. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aci#NYSE">ACI</a>) as some of its largest customers.
Walmart took an 11% stake in the company and has integrated Symbiotic into all its 42 regional distribution centers. The company has plans to offer warehouse-as-a-service (WaaS) through a joint venture, GreenBox Systems, with major investor SoftBank. While SYM has a large 356 million share float, it has a high short interest of 27.13%.
<h2>Surging Growth</h2>
Symbotic reported a fiscal Q1 2024 GAAP EPS loss of 2 cents, missing 2 cents profit consensus estimates. Revenues surged 78.6% YoY to $368.45 million, slightly missing consensus estimates of $368.84 million. The company provided flat in-line guidance for fiscal Q2 2024 for $400 million to $420 million versus $402.34 million consensus estimates.
Symbotic CEO Rick Cohen was upbeat and commented, &quot;&quot;Fiscal year 2024 is off to a solid start with strong financial and operational results. I am pleased with the trajectory and goals we have planned for the rest of the year. We will continue to innovate and build deployment capacity to support growth and increased profitability for our stakeholders.&quot;
<img alt="Symbiotic stock chart " class="aligncenter" src="https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/articles/med_20240407140902_charts-sym.jpg" style="height:794px; width:915px" />
<h2>Daily Symmetrical Triangle Pattern &nbsp;</h2>
The daily candlestick chart for SYM illustrates a symmetrical triangle pattern. The descending upper trendline formed at $59.82 on November 28, 2023, capping lower highs on bounces. The ascending lower trendline formed at $30.60 on November 13, 2023, bouncing higher and lower on pullbacks. SYM is nearing the apex point as it gets ready to either break out through the upper trendline or break down through the lower trendline.
The daily relative strength index (RSI) is attempting to coil off the 48-band. Pullback support levels are at $38.99, $37.22, $33.93 and $29.62.
Symbiotic analyst ratings and price targets are at MarketBeat.
<h2>Intuitive Machines </h2>
Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lunr#NASDAQ">LUNR</a>) provides space exploration services to enable human and scientific exploration on the moon. The company manufactures lunar landers that deliver payloads comprised of cargo and scientific instruments on the moon. The company is contracted with NASA for multiple missions.&nbsp; Intuitive Machines is also developing a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) that can provide mobility on the moon&#39;s surface. The company has a small 25.7 million share float and a 21.82% short interest. However, it filed for an offering of $300 million in class A common stock and also the resale of 159.81 million shares of class A stock by selling stockholders.
<h2>Fourth-Quarter 2023 Earnings </h2>
Intuitive Machines contracted backlog rose to $268.6 million at the quarter&#39;s end, driven primarily by the first NASA OMES III task orders. Revenues were $30.6 million, driven by three NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative contracts, down from $38.6 million in the year-ago period. Full-year revenues were $79.5 million compared to $85.9 million in the year-ago period. Full-year operating losses were $56.2 million compared to a loss of 5.9 million in the year-ago period. The company closed the quarter with $54.6 million.
Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus commented, &quot;Exactly one year after going public, Intuitive Machines launched its IM-1 mission, and one week later, on February 22, 2024, we successfully landed, marking the United States&#39; first lunar landing in over 50 years.&quot; Altemus continued, &quot;The successful landing, recognized by the White House, NASA, and our commercial customers, fundamentally disrupted the economics of landing on the Moon while substantially retiring the costs of developing a lunar program.&quot;
<img alt="Intuitive machines stock chart " class="aligncenter" src="https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/articles/med_20240407140922_charts-lunr.jpg" style="height:795px; width:915px" />
<h2>Daily Descending Triangle </h2>
The daily candlestick chart on LUNR has a descending triangle pattern. The descending trendline formed at the $13.25 swing high on February 21, 2024, as it capped bounces at lower highs. The flat-bottom lower trendline formed at $5.05. The daily RSI has been drifting around the $46 band. Pullback support levels are at $5.05, $4.46, $3.76, and $3.38.
<h2>Wayfair </h2>
Wayfair Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/w#NYSE">W</a>) is an online furniture and household products retailer for consumers to access through its e-commerce platform. Accessibility and convenience are two drivers for its success against brick-and-mortar furniture competitors. Rather than shuffling through physical showrooms and dealing with traffic, parking, and weather constraints, customers can sift through collections seamlessly at the click of a mouse. The company has also implemented free shipping, a loyalty program and white glove delivery options.
<h2>Outperforming Brick-and-Mortar Competitors </h2>
Most furniture retailers are experiencing revenue declines, like Haverty Furniture Cos. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hvt#NYSE">HVT</a>) with a 24% YoY Q4 2023 revenue decline and La-Z-Boy Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lzb#NYSE">LZB</a>) with a 12.6% YoY fiscal Q3 2024 revenue decline, respectively.&nbsp; Wayfair experienced 0.4% revenue growth in its Q4 2023 quarter. It should be one of the first to recover when interest rate cuts commence. Year-over-year operating margin3 expansion.&quot;
<img alt="Wayfair stock price " class="aligncenter" src="https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/articles/med_20240407140946_charts-w.jpg" style="height:791px; width:915px" />
Daily Ascending Triangle
The daily candlestick chart on W continues to trade in the daily ascending triangle pattern. Just as it appears to start breaking down through its lower ascending triangle, buyers come into potentially holding the line. The daily RSI also continues to float sideways around the 53-band. Pullback supports remain at the $58.98, $55.30, $51.83 and $48.99 levels.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/3-high-short-interest-stocks-ready-to-squeeze/">3 High Short Interest Stocks Ready to Squeeze </a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

Small Cap

LUNR

3 High Short Interest Stocks Ready to Squeeze

T-Mobile is now available in nearly all Sam's Club locations, offering members major value when making the switch to America's leading 5G network

TMUS

T-Mobile Launches In Sam's Club As Exclusive In-Club Wireless Provider

Immuron Limited ((ASX: IMC, NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IMRN#NASDAQ">IMRN</a>), an Australian based and globally integrated biopharmaceutical company is pleased to announce record sales (unaudited) of Travelan&reg;, an over-the-counter immune supplement that targets pathogenic bacteria and the toxins they produce in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract,
Sales Highlights: Global &bull; FYTD Mar 2024 AUD$3.6 million up 154% on (prior comparative period) pcp &bull; Mar 2024 Quarter AUD$1.3 million up 51% on pcp and 75% on last quarter Australia &bull; FYTD Mar 2024 AUD$2.8 million up 234% on pcp &bull; Mar 2024 Quarter AUD$0.9 million up 66% on pcp and 99% on last quarter USA &bull; FYTD Mar 2024 AUD$0.8 million up 35% on pcp &bull; Mar 2024 Quarter AUD$0.3 million up 7% on pcp and 18% on last quarter &bull; Sales commenced on Walmart.com &nbsp;

Earnings

Guidance

IMRN

Immuron Announced Travelan Sales Continued Strong Growth

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6DJYGn2SFk" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6DJYGn2SFk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6DJYGn2SFk</a>

Events

GOOG

GOOGL

Walmart CTO Gives Presentation At Google Cloud Next '24 Keynote Event

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Nest eggs can set you up nicely for retirement. The stocks in your retirement account can get you closer to your long-term financial goals and offer some stability when you need it the most.



Younger investors tend to buy <a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-types/growth-stocks/">growth stocks</a> because they have more time to wait for stocks to realize their full potential. However, as people grow older, they usually want more stability and less risk. Stuffing your portfolio with investments built to thrive in chaos can help investors outperform the market during uncertain times while receiving dividend payments.



These are some of the retirement stocks to consider for your nest egg if you want to withstand economic uncertainty.



<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>People still have to buy products and services during any economic cycle. However, they may seek out more affordable products.&nbsp;Walmart&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) shines when consumers are looking to save money. The company combines affordability with quality and can attract wealthier consumers as inflation continues to creep higher.&nbsp;



The stock has several components that retirees will like. It has a 1.39% dividend yield and a 31 P/E ratio. The stock has outperformed the&nbsp;S&amp;P 500&nbsp;over the past five years and is up by 12% year-to-date (YTD).&nbsp;



Walmart is still growing at a decent rate. The company generated <a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/262069030/files/doc_earnings/2024/q4/earnings-result/Earnings-Release-2024-Q4.pdf">5.7% year-over-year (YOY) net sales growth</a> in&nbsp;Q4 FY24. WMT&rsquo;s continued strength in e-commerce and advertising can lead to accelerated revenue growth and higher profit margins.



Furthermore, Wall Street analysts feel confident about the American retailer. It&rsquo;s rated as a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/wmt/forecast">strong buy with a projected 10% upside</a>. The highest price target of $75.99 per share suggests a 28% upside from current levels.



<h2>Amazon (AMZN)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/amzn_amazon_prime1600-300x169.png" alt="Amazon (AMZN) prime label on a parcel"><div>Source: Claudio Divizia / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Amazon&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amzn-stock-quote/">AMZN</a>) is another place people will continue to shop during any economic cycle. Sales may decelerate during slowdowns, but people will come back in force once the economy gets bullish again.&nbsp;



For now, the sales keep pouring in. Amazon reported a <a href="https://ir.aboutamazon.com/news-release/news-release-details/2024/Amazon.com-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-Results/">record $170.0 billion in net sales</a> in&nbsp;Q4 of 2023. Domestic and international sales had double-digit growth rates during the record breaking quarter. Overall sales jumped by 14% YOY.&nbsp;



Clearly, Amazon is the leader in the cloud computing industry. And, it is projected to achieve a&nbsp;compounded annual growth rate <a href="https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/cloud-computing-market">(CAGR) of 16.40%&nbsp;from now until 2029</a>. This industry has improved Amazon&rsquo;s profit margins, and the company still has plenty of opportunities in this vertical.



The stock has outperformed the market with a 16% YTD gain. Also, shares are up by 68% over the past year. Wall Street analysts believe in continued gains, rating the stock a strong buy and projecting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/amzn/forecast" target="_blank">gain of an additional 22% from current levels</a>.&nbsp;



<h2>Visa (V)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/visa-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="several Visa branded credit cards"><div>Source: Kikinunchi / Shutterstock.com</div></div>People will continue to shop at places like Walmart and Amazon, and they&rsquo;ll also continue to use their credit and debit cards.&nbsp;Visa&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/v-stock-quote/">V</a>) is the leading financial company in the industry with a market cap above $500 billion. The fintech firm generated <a href="https://s1.q4cdn.com/050606653/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/Q1-2024-Earnings-Release.pdf">$8.6 billion in net revenue</a> in the&nbsp;first quarter of fiscal 2024. Net income came in at $4.9 billion.&nbsp;



Revenue and net income grew by 9% and 17% YOY, respectively. Also, the company allocated $4.4 billion toward stock buybacks and dividends. Remaining strong in the quarter, consumer spending can help Visa report additional quarters with good earnings growth.



Visa regularly reports incredible profit margins. The company&rsquo;s net profit margin came in at 56.6% in the quarter. Shares are up by 4% YTD and have gained 66% over the past five years. The stock has a 0.77% yield and trades at a 34 P/E ratio. Analysts are feeling bullish about Visa stock and give it a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/v/forecast" target="_blank">projected 15% upside</a>&nbsp;from current levels.



On this date of publication, Marc Guberti held a long position in AMZN. 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/fortify-your-nest-egg-with-these-3-investments-built-to-thrive-in-chaos/">Fortify Your Nest Egg With These 3 Investments Built to Thrive in Chaos</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Fortify Your Nest Egg With These 3 Investments Built to Thrive in Chaos

The consumer has been increasingly under fire these last few years, as interest rates surge and inflation dominates the landscape. In fact, some de...

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Slides on Plans to Push Lending Harder

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an index that tracks 30 stocks representing large US companies. Because the index is composed of U.S. industry leaders it is broadly equated to the US economy overall. The U.S. economy is the world&rsquo;s largest and thus the Dow 30 tends to represent the most stable investments overall. This has led to my list of dependable Dow stocks for investors to consider.



It&rsquo;s very easy to currently argue that investors are seeking dependability and stability overall. Doubts&nbsp;about Fed rate cuts have reintroduced instability to the stock market. I believe that investors who were warming up to the idea of growth prospects on lower lending rates will now pivot back into more stable investments like those the Dow offers. Stability and a worry-free portfolio will now command a higher premium than they did until very recently. 



So, with that being said, let&rsquo;s look at three dependable dow stocks to consider buying.



<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 (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/axp-stock-quote/">AXP</a>) And other credit card stocks have proven their strength over the past few years. American credit card debt continues to surge to all time highs providing reason to believe that AXP shares will continue to grow moving forward.



2023 was an <a href="https://s26.q4cdn.com/747928648/files/doc_financials/2023/Q4-2023-Earnings-Press-Release.pdf">exceptionally strong year for the company</a> with revenues and earnings per share both growing by 14%, respectively. Earnings per share surged during the 4th quarter, increasing by 27%. the strong performance was an indication that American Express will continue to reward investors.



Yet, in the stock market it is not the past that matters but instead the future. There too, American Express looks strong. It is <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-why-american-express-axp-215020586.html">expected that American Express will show 10% revenue</a> growth and earnings per share increases near 25% when it releases its earnings report soon.&nbsp;



Further, American Express tends to serve a wealthier clientele base than other credit card firms. Thus, it tends to have a lower credit risk overall which is another signal of its dependability. This make it one of those dependable Dow stocks for investors to consider closely.



<h2>McDonald&rsquo;s (MCD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/mcd-1600-1-300x169.jpg" alt="McDonald's golden arches"><div>Source: Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock</div></div>McDonald&rsquo;s (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mcd-stock-quote/">MCD</a>) has long been recognized as a dependable stock. There is no more recognizable restaurant globally and that fact is testament to the strength of the firm.&nbsp;



McDonald&rsquo;s is very dependable from the perspective that customers know they will receive the same meal in middle America as they will in the Middle East. It&rsquo;s also a very dependable, stable stock overall recognized for strong earnings, dividends, and worry-free growth.&nbsp;



During 2023 McDonald&rsquo;s saw overall sales <a href="https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/content/dam/sites/corp/nfl/pdf/Exhibit%2099.1%20-%20Q4-23.pdf">grow by 10% and net income grow by 37%</a>. As impressive as those results are, investors should expect further growth from the company. The company is targeting its <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-announces-new-targets-for-development-loyalty-membership-and-cloud-technology-302007679.html">fastest rate of historical growth </a>between now and 2027. There were <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/219454/mcdonalds-restaurants-worldwide/">more than 41,000 McDonald&rsquo;s franchises globally</a> at the end of 2023. McDonald&rsquo;s intends to increase that number to 50,000 by 2027.&nbsp;



Thus, it&rsquo;s likely that investors in MCD stock can expect a more potent mix of stability with higher growth in the coming years. It&rsquo;s also one of those dependable Dow stocks to buy.



<h2>Walmart (WMT)</h2>



<a href="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image-2.jpeg"><img width="300" height="158" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image-2-300x158.jpeg" alt="WMT Stock"></a>Walmart (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) is the clearest stock choice among retail shares. It continues to lead the retail space and essentially only has a single challenger in e-commerce giant, Amazon (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amzn-stock-quote/">AMZN</a>).



Walmart reported $648 billion in revenues in 2023 while Amazon&rsquo;s sales were slightly lower, at $574.8 billion. Each firm has continued to try and replicate the strengths of the other. Amazon has made attempts to enter the brick and mortar retail space with very limited success. However, Walmart continues to make substantial strides in e-commerce. In fact, Walmart&rsquo;s e-commerce sales eclipsed $100 billion in 2023 for the first time ever.



It&rsquo;s difficult to see any massive flaw in Walmart&rsquo;s strategy and execution. Beyond that, Walmart is a clear go to choice for consumers who continue to battle stubborn inflation. Walmart is poised to continue to dominate its traditional business while also making strides in e-commerce. That combination of a dominant strengths makes WMT shares very dependable and a nice addition to investors seeking a worry-free portfolio overall.



On the date of publication, Alex Sirois 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 InvestorPlace.com<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/"> Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Alex Sirois is a freelance contributor to InvestorPlace whose personal stock investing style is focused on long-term, buy-and-hold, wealth-building stock picks. Having worked in several industries from e-commerce to translation to education and utilizing his MBA from George Washington University, he brings a diverse set of skills through which he filters his writing.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-dependable-dow-stocks-to-own-for-a-worry-free-portfolio/">3 Dependable Dow Stocks to Own for a Worry-Free Portfolio</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>
Investing legend Peter Lynch, who managed the flagship Magellan Fund for Fidelity Investments,&nbsp;encouraged individuals to beat Wall Street by buying stocks that they saw <a href="https://magazine.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/anniversary-issue/stock-superstar-who-beat-the-street-peter-s-lynch-wg68/">doing well on Main Street</a>.



From 1977 to 1990, when Lynch managed the Magellan Fund, it <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Lynch#cite_note-3">posted a 29.2% annual return</a>. Clearly something worked. 



Now, inspired by the investing legend, I have picked three companies that I have personal experience with to recommend. Check out my Peter Lynch stocks below.



<h2>Genuine Parts (GPC)&nbsp;</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/gpc1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Hands holding a smartphone with the Genuine Parts (GPC) logo displayed. "><div>Source: Piotr Swat / Shutterstock.com</div></div>You would never know that I am a car enthusiast by what I drive. But my car has over 150,000 miles and is still going strong. Much of the thanks for that goes to Genuine Parts (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/gpc-stock-quote/">GPC</a>). 



That is the story for more and more as <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/15/americans-are-keeping-their-cars-longer-amid-rising-interest-rates.html">Americans are keeping their cars longer</a>.&nbsp;A big part of making that happen is routine maintenance, and a big part of routine maintenance is replacing parts when needed. 



Your money should always work for&nbsp;you when you invest, and an obvious&nbsp;way&nbsp;is receiving a dividend check in the mail.&nbsp;Genuine Parts is also a Dividend Aristocrat, which means it is a member of the S&amp;P 500 and has increased its dividend annually for at least the last 25 years.&nbsp;With a beta of 0.97x, Genuine Parts is also good for writing call or put options to make more money. Most options are not exercised and Genuine Parts does not swing much in price, so this is a nice way to make more from your holdings.&nbsp;



With the beta, volume of 1 million shares daily, and dividend history, this stock is also good for dividend-capture trading.



<h2>McDonald&rsquo;s (MCD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mcd1600-1-300x169.png" alt="New McDonalds Being Built in 2020, Close Up of Main McD Sign"><div>Source: Retail Photographer / Shutterstock.com</div></div>I have never had a cup of coffee in my life.&nbsp;But I do get a Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ko-stock-quote/">KO</a>) from McDonald&rsquo;s (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mcd-stock-quote/">MCD</a>) every morning. Why?&nbsp; Because it is <a href="https://www.rd.com/article/mcdonalds-coke/">written to be the best</a> and, most important of all, it tastes that way to me!&nbsp; 



Many times there are lines at McDonald&rsquo;s of those ordering coffee in the morning when I get my Coca-Cola.&nbsp;The fast-food chain appeals to everyone.&nbsp;Little kids love the Happy Meals and old timers hang out there enjoying the senior coffee.&nbsp;



Investors in McDonald&rsquo;s enjoy some tasty margins,&nbsp;too. I like big profits, and the profit margin for McDonald&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/MCD/mcdonalds/profit-margins">is over 33%</a>.&nbsp;The operating margin is over 45% and the gross margin is over 55%. Sales and earnings are up and the 2.4% dividend yield is almost twice the S&amp;P 500 average of 1.35%. 



With a below-average beta of 0.71x, volume of 3.3 million shares daily, and dividend history, McDonald&rsquo;s is also suitable for dividend-capture trading.



<h2>Walmart (WMT)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/wm-stock-10-300x169.jpg" alt="Image of Walmart (WMT) logo on Walmart store with clear blue sky in the background"><div>Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com</div></div>As a standup comic, I can tell you there are many who do jokes about Walmart (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>).&nbsp;There is nothing to make fun of the biggest retailer about as an investment, though.&nbsp; 



I don&rsquo;t make fun of Walmart when I do comedy as it always has the protein shakes I need and the biscuits my dogs prefer. I know that Walmart will have them, and I always end up buying more stuff while I am there, too.&nbsp;This business model works as Walmart, the world&rsquo;s largest retailer, is expanding even more by going after new customers (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-21/walmart-wmt-targets-wealthier-shoppers-with-high-end-products">more affluent</a>) and building <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/31/business/walmart-stores-expansion.html#:~:text=The%20retail%20giant%2C%20which%20last,stores%20would%20be%20newly%20built.&amp;text=Walmart%20will%20add%20150%20stores,drive%20for%20the%20retail%20giant.">150 new stores</a>.&nbsp;With a low beta of 0.49x, high volume of 19.1 million shares daily, and dividend, history this is also good for dividend-capture trading. On the date of publication, Jonathan Yates 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 InvestorPlace.com <a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.&nbsp;
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/main-streets-next-winners-3-stocks-im-bullish-on-using-the-peter-lynch-approach/">Main Street's Next Winners? 3 Stocks I'm Bullish on Using the Peter Lynch Approach.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Main Street's Next Winners? 3 Stocks I'm Bullish on Using the Peter Lynch Approach.

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<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Perhaps the biggest justification for steady stocks comes from an asset class completely unrelated to the equities market: cryptocurrencies. After the benchmark blockchain asset hit a record high earlier this year, the sector has struggled for traction.



It&rsquo;s not necessarily a surprising development either. Most prominently, geopolitical flashpoints threaten the stability of critical supply chains. Therefore, the turmoil could easily work its way down to us Americans, much like pouring water on an electric fence.



On another note, inflation has been stickier than experts anticipated. Here, a robust labor market isn&rsquo;t exactly helping matters. With so many serious challenges surrounding us, it&rsquo;s simply good practice to consider these steady stocks.



<h2>Colgate-Palmolive (CL)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/colgate-cl-stock-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Colgate toothpaste and mouthwash in a cup with a toothbrush"><div>Source: monticello / Shutterstock.com</div></div>A consumer defensive play, Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cl-stock-quote/">CL</a>) makes plenty of sense as one of the stable stocks to consider. Operating under the household and personal products category, Colgate manufactures and sells various consumer products. The company conducts business through two units: Oral, Personal and Home Care and Pet Nutrition.



Fundamentally, Colgate benefits from permanent relevance. No matter what&rsquo;s going on with the economy, people need to care for themselves. As for the company&rsquo;s pet products segment, the underlying industry in the U.S. <a href="https://www.americanpetproducts.org/news/press-release/u.s.-pet-industry-reaches-147-billion-in-sales-in-2023">clocked in total revenue of $147 billion</a> last year. That metric demonstrates continued growth in the space despite broader consumer headwinds.



For the current fiscal year, experts <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/CL/analysis">anticipate earnings per share of $3.49</a> on revenue of $20.15 billion. That&rsquo;s a modest improvement over last year&rsquo;s results of $3.23 per share on sales of $19.46 billion. Combined with a forward dividend yield of 2.25% and a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/cl/forecast">strong buy</a> assessment among analysts, CL is one of the top stable stocks to put on your radar.



<h2>Kenvue (KVUE)</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>Spun off from healthcare giant Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/jnj-stock-quote/">JNJ</a>), Kenvue (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/kvue-stock-quote/">KVUE</a>) focuses exclusively on consumer health products. It operates via three segments: Self Care, Skin Health and Beauty, and Essential Health. <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/KVUE/profile">Per its public profile</a>, Kenvue levers multiple popular brands, including Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and Nicorette, among many others.



For cautious investors, KVUE represents one of the steady stocks thanks to its every day need. From mouthcare to wound care to private hygiene products, Kenvue delivers the goods that people take for granted. Further, the company benefits from generational awareness of its product line. If your family used particular brands, it&rsquo;s probable that you&rsquo;ll use them yourself when you branch out on your own.



For fiscal 2024, experts anticipate the company will produce EPS of $1.14 on revenue of $15.63 billion. That&rsquo;s a mixed view, with EPS last year coming in at $1.29. However, sales landed at $15.44 billion in 2023.



While it&rsquo;s hardly exciting, Kenvue offers a forward dividend yield of 4.13%. Thus, it&rsquo;s one of the steady stocks to consider.



<h2>Walmart (WMT)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/wmt-stock-8-300x169.jpg" alt="Walmart (WMT) logo on a store front"><div>Source: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com</div></div>When faced with a challenging economic cycle, Walmart (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) could be the defensive retail name to choose. Yes, it must be stated that a broader impact to the consumer economy will likely affect WMT stock. At the same time, people just can&rsquo;t stop all spending. While Walmart carries some cyclical exposure, at its core, it&rsquo;s a defensive play.



In terms of financial performance, it&rsquo;s surprisingly robust. No, I wouldn&rsquo;t characterize the business as lighting up the board. However, in the last fiscal year, the company&rsquo;s average positive earnings beat came out to nearly 7%. Its worst performance was Q3, where EPS of 51 cents met the consensus target.



For the current fiscal year, experts are anticipating EPS of $2.36, a modest improvement over last year&rsquo;s $2.22. On the top line, they&rsquo;re projecting revenue of $673.45 billion, up 3.9% from last year&rsquo;s tally of $648.12 billion. Further, the next fiscal year could see sales move past the $700 billion mark. It&rsquo;s not exciting but it&rsquo;s definitely one of the steady stocks to consider.



<h2>McDonald&rsquo;s (MCD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/mcd-1600-1-300x169.jpg" alt="McDonald's golden arches"><div>Source: Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock</div></div>A fast-food giant, McDonald&rsquo;s (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mcd-stock-quote/">MCD</a>) really needs no introduction. It&rsquo;s a staple of American capitalism. Further, the underlying products carry an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21999689/">addictive quality</a>, perhaps due to the high fat and salt content. What&rsquo;s undeniable is that the Golden Arches is super convenient. You can be in and out with your order and that makes MCD quite intriguing, especially under social normalization trends.



While McDonald&rsquo;s isn&rsquo;t a snazzy investment by any stretch of the imagination, it gets the job done. Last fiscal year, the company&rsquo;s average positive earnings surprise landed at 9.35%. Its best performance occurred in Q2, with EPS of $3.17 beating out the consensus view of $2.79.



For the current year, experts peg EPS at $12.40, a solid improvement over last year&rsquo;s print of $11.94. Also, revenue of $26.85 billion represents a 5.3% improvement over 2023&rsquo;s tally of $25.49 billion. McDonald&rsquo;s also offers a forward yield of 2.41%, presenting a solid case for steady stocks to buy.



<h2>Microsoft (MSFT)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/msft1600-1-300x169.png" alt="Microsoft logo close up. Microsoft (MSFT) Flagship Store Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, NYC."><div>Source: The Art of Pics / Shutterstock.com</div></div>While Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/msft-stock-quote/">MSFT</a>) is officially listed under the infrastructural software space, it&rsquo;s difficult to classify the enterprise. It&rsquo;s really an everyman in the broader technology sector. For one thing, it&rsquo;s Office 365 suite &ndash; which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint among other programs &ndash; is indispensable. It&rsquo;s operating system simply owns the PC market. Notably, the company established a foothold in artificial intelligence with its timely investments.



Even better, the results show up in the financial statements and the charts. Last year, the company&rsquo;s average positive earnings surprise came out to 8.4%. Its best report was Q3, where it produced EPS of $2.73 against a consensus view of $2.42. Over the past 52 weeks, MSFT stock gained almost 49%.



For fiscal 2024, analysts believe Microsoft can deliver EPS of $11.63 on revenue of $244.21 billion. That&rsquo;s a significant leap from last year&rsquo;s results of $9.81 per share on sales of $211.91 billion. Given its current momentum, these expectations seem quite reasonable.



<h2>Sempra (SRE)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sre-sempra-energy-1600-300x169.png" alt="The logo for Sempra (SRE) is seen at the top of an office building."><div>Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com</div></div>To be fair, utility stalwart Sempra (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sre-stock-quote/">SRE</a>) hasn&rsquo;t been the most iron tight among steady stocks. SRE is down 5% since the beginning of the year and lost almost 9% of value over the past 52 weeks. That said, it&rsquo;s difficult to argue with the fundamentals. Based in San Diego, California, Sempra covers a large area of the Golden State.



While there&rsquo;s always political criticism of California, the fact is that it&rsquo;s the economic engine of the U.S. As well, it&rsquo;s a state that features an international border and is home to vital ports facing the Pacific Ocean. Factor in the temperate climate and it&rsquo;s a highly desirable location. Further, because it&rsquo;s home to so many businesses, people tend to earn higher wages.



Basically, Sempra&rsquo;s natural monopoly benefits from a combination of desirability and ongoing economic vitality. That makes the company&rsquo;s forward dividend yield of 3.44% very credible. In addition, Sempra consistently beats its bottom-line quarterly targets. For the current fiscal year, analysts anticipate EPS of $4.81, an improvement over last year&rsquo;s $4.61.



Again, it&rsquo;s credible and so it&rsquo;s an investment you can trust.



<h2>Marathon Petroleum (MPC)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/marathon-oil-mro-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Marathon Oil gas station carport on sunny day with blue sky background"><div>Source: Jonathan Weiss/shutterstock.com</div></div>Operating in the oil and gas refining and marketing category, Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mpc-stock-quote/">MPC</a>) also operates a midstream business. Fundamentally, Marathon should benefit from economic resilience. The world still runs on oil (quite literally). So, even with disruptions and higher energy prices, people must pay up. Otherwise, the consequences of not doing so will outweigh the cost savings.



That&rsquo;s a terribly cynical way to look at the downstream business but it&rsquo;s also unavoidable. Further, with the geopolitical backdrop pointing toward a possible supply squeeze via disruptions to global logistics outflows, MPC stock has been on the move. Since the start of the year, shares have gained nearly 31% of equity value. Over the past 52 weeks, they&rsquo;re up about 62%.



Notably, in Q4 of last year, the company posted an earnings surprise of 80.9%. Therefore, it&rsquo;s questionable that projections call for fiscal 2024 earnings and sales to decline against 2023 results. Rather, it&rsquo;s possible that the upper end of the revenue target of $160 billion could be reached. If so, that should bolster the bottom line.



On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not have (either 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 InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. Tweet him at @EnomotoMedia.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/steady-eddies-7-rock-solid-stocks-to-anchor-your-portfolio-in-april/">Steady Eddies: 7 Rock-Solid Stocks to Anchor Your Portfolio in April</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Steady Eddies: 7 Rock-Solid Stocks to Anchor Your Portfolio in April

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
You don&rsquo;t have to do daily trades to achieve your long-term financial goals. Buying and holding reliable stocks for many years can lead to outsized returns and move you closer to retirement. Investors have to remain patient and hold onto promising corporations during good times and bad times.



Stock market corrections test the mettle of many investors. Some investors mistakenly sell stocks just because they are going down. There are reasons to sell stocks, such as a significant change to the company&rsquo;s fundamentals or growth opportunities, but a correction alone isn&rsquo;t enough of a reason to sell reliable companies.



Investors who can weather the storm with these long-term stocks have the potential to grow their portfolios.



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



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/goog_googl_alphabet_1600-300x169.png" alt="Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL) and Google logos seen displayed on smartphones. The Google stock split is happening today."><div>Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Alphabet&nbsp;(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>) didn&rsquo;t receive as much love to start the year as AI blunders got overblown. The stock has rebounded and is up by 11% year-to-date.&nbsp;



It&rsquo;s no secret that Alphabet makes most of its revenue from advertising. While it&rsquo;s better to have well-diversified revenue streams, ad revenue is working well for the company. Google and YouTube helped the company achieve 13% year-over-year revenue growth in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abc.xyz/assets/95/eb/9cef90184e09bac553796896c633/2023q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf" target="_blank">Q4 2023</a>.&nbsp;



Google Cloud attributed to more than 10% of the company&rsquo;s revenue and looks like it can be a solid business segment for the company moving forward. Alphabet is one of the largest cloud computing providers. Google Cloud looks poised to become a larger percentage of total revenue each quarter. It wouldn&rsquo;t surprise me to see Google Cloud revenue become more than 20% of the company&rsquo;s total revenue within the next 1-2 years.



Revenue growth has been good, but net income growth has been even better. The company reported 52% year-over-year net income growth in Q4 2023. Cost-cutting measures can support higher profit margins and make the company&rsquo;s 29 P/E ratio look more enticing.&nbsp;



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



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/axp1600-300x169.jpg" alt="an American Express (AXP) credit card sticking out of someone's pocket"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>American Express&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/axp-stock-quote/">AXP</a>) exceeded expectations in the&nbsp;<a href="https://s26.q4cdn.com/747928648/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/Q1-2024-Earnings-Press-Release.pdf" target="_blank">first quarter of 2024</a>&nbsp;while attracting Millennials and Gen Z. Those two cohorts made up 60% of the company&rsquo;s new cardholders who came in during the first quarter.&nbsp;



The financial firm delivered on the high-end of its revenue guidance and surprised investors with its net income growth. Revenue grew by 11% year-over-year. It&rsquo;s a growth rate the firm believes it can achieve beyond 2026. Net income growth captured more attention. While the firm suggested mid-teens EPS growth beyond 2026, the firm reported 34% year-over-year net income growth in the quarter. That translated into a 39% year-over-year growth in diluted EPS.



The stock has a reasonable 20 P/E ratio given its current financials and long-term growth prospects. People will continue to use credit and debit cards during any economic cycle. American Express stands to benefit from that trend and is more reasonably valued than its peers.



<h2>Walmart (WMT)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/wmt-stock-8-300x169.jpg" alt="Walmart (WMT) logo on a store front"><div>Source: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Many consumers turn to&nbsp;Walmart&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) when they want to save money on various products. The retailer has established a strong reputation for itself for more than 60 years. The company continues to expand and delivered 5.7% year-over-year revenue 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 2023</a>.&nbsp;



Walmart has a few catalysts that can support higher growth rates and improved profit margins. The first catalyst is the rising cost of goods and services. Higher prices will entice more people to shop at Walmart to save money. The company has been making a push to attract&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://qz.com/walmart-wealthy-shoppers-1851355757">a higher quantity of wealthy customers</a>.



The second catalyst is the company&rsquo;s advertising network. The global advertising business grew by 33% year-over-year and the acquisition of Vizio will strengthen this segment. A focus on advertising will increase profit margins and may have contributed to the company&rsquo;s 9% dividend hike.



The final catalyst is e-commerce growth. Global e-commerce sales grew by 23% year-over-year in the fourth quarter. Full-year e-commerce sales exceeded $100 billion. The company can exhibit better top and bottom lines as e-commerce revenue makes up a larger percentage of total revenue.



<h2>Elf Beauty (ELF)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/elf1600-300x169.jpg" alt="an elf branded beauty product on a stone counter"><div>Source: Lisa Chinn / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Elf Beauty&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/elf-stock-quote/">ELF</a>) is in the middle of a deep correction that has made the stock more attractive for long-term investors. Shares are down by more than 25% from their all-time highs and currently trade at a 70 P/E ratio.



The beauty firm has a high valuation because of its impressive financial growth. Elf Beauty continued the trend with 85% year-over-year net sales growth in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investor.elfbeauty.com/news-and-events/press-releases/landing-news/2024/02-06-2024-210530133">Q3 FY24</a>. The company significantly raised its fiscal 2024 outlook. The company hiked its net sales range from $896-$906 million to $980-$990 million. Net income came in at $26.9 million on a GAAP basis which is up by 41% year-over-year.



Elf Beauty has achieved 20 consecutive quarters of sales growth. Those results have helped the stock surge by more than 1,100% over the past five years. Analysts are feeling bullish on the stock and have rated it as a &ldquo;Moderate Buy.&rdquo; The average price target suggests a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/elf/forecast">31% upside</a>&nbsp;from current levels.



<h2>Costco (COST)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="150" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/costco-wholesale-corporation-cost-ipsize-300x150.jpg" alt="Costco Stock May Be the Market&rsquo;s Top Recession Pick"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>Costco&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cost-stock-quote/">COST</a>) has established itself as a wholesaler that offers affordable prices for various products. The recent&nbsp;<a target="_blank" 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">monthly sales report</a>&nbsp;indicates the corporation is doing well. The company generated a 7.7% year-over-year comparable sales growth rate in the retail month of March. The company also reported 5.2% year-over-year growth over the past 31 weeks.&nbsp;



E-commerce growth also came in hot at 28.3% year-over-year for the retail month of March. The &ldquo;retail month of March&rdquo; is the five weeks ended April 7, 2024. Costco has steadily outperformed the stock market with a 189% gain over the past five years. The corporation trades at a 46 P/E ratio and offers a 0.655 dividend yield.&nbsp;



Costco makes it possible to do all of your shopping in one place, and that advantage has resulted in plenty of bullishness from analysts. The stock is rated as a &ldquo;Strong Buy&rdquo; with an average price target that suggests an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/cost/forecast">11% upside</a>.&nbsp;



<h2>FICO (FICO)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bank-lending-capital-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="hands at desk near laptop computer, with one hand holding a pile of hundred dollar bills. Bank stocks"><div>Source: shutterstock.com/CC7</div></div>FICO&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/fico-stock-quote/">FICO</a>) measures credit risk and is the golden standard for credit scores. Many financial institutions use FICO scores to assess a consumer&rsquo;s level of risk before giving out loans.&nbsp;



The company has two business segments that both grew year-over-year in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investors.fico.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fico-announces-earnings-480-share-first-quarter-fiscal-2024">first quarter of fiscal 2024</a>. Scores revenue increased by 8% year-over-year. This segment includes the company&rsquo;s B2B scoring solutions and B2C solutions.&nbsp;



Software revenues jumped by 14% year-over-year. This segment consists of the company&rsquo;s analytics and digital decisioning technology. Annual recurring revenue grew by 43% year-over-year.&nbsp;



Overall revenue increased by 11% year-over-year, but net income growth was more impressive. Earnings were 24% higher compared to the same time year-over-year and resulted in a 31.7% net profit margin. The stock has handily outperformed the market with a 300% gain over the past five years. The stock is rated as a &ldquo;Moderate Buy&rdquo; and has a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/fico/forecast">projected 20% upside</a>&nbsp;from current levels.



<h2>SoFi (SOFI)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/sofi1600-1-300x169.png" alt="SoFi Technologies, Inc logo with stock market chart background. is an American online personal finance company and online bank."><div>Source: Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com</div></div>SoFi&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sofi-stock-quote/">SOFI</a>) has been a roller coaster for long-term investors. The stock is down by 25% year-to-date and has dropped by 31% over the past five years. However, the company is up by 18% over the past year and has a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/sofi/forecast">projected 24% upside</a>&nbsp;from current levels.



The digital bank offers many services you would expect from traditional banks. The fintech firm offers bank accounts, loans, credit cards, investment accounts, and other resources. It&rsquo;s an all-in-one resource for people who want to manage their finances in one place.



A good platform isn&rsquo;t enough to justify buying the stock. However, SoFi recently switched to profitability and has a compelling long-term outlook. The firm grew its revenue by 35% year-over-year in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://s27.q4cdn.com/749715820/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/SoFi-Q4-2023-Earnings-Release.pdf">Q4 2023</a>&nbsp;while reporting $47.9 million in GAAP net income. That&rsquo;s a big shift compared to the $40.0 million GAAP net loss posted in Q4 2022.&nbsp;



SoFi expects 20%-25% compound revenue growth beyond 2026. The company also expects to generate $0.55 to $0.80 in GAAP earnings per share in 2026. The firm also expects 20%-25% compounded EPS growth beyond 2026.&nbsp;



The stock currently trades at roughly $7/share. A $0.55 EPS implies a 12.7 P/E ratio while an $0.80 EPS suggests an 8.75 P/E ratio. We have to wait until 2026 to see if guidance plays out as expected. However, the company&rsquo;s long-term goals and recent financial growth highlight a stock with great potential.&nbsp;



On this date of publication, Marc Guberti held long positions in GOOG, ELF, and SOFI. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investorplace.com/">InvestorPlace.com</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">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/the-top-7-long-term-stocks-to-buy-in-april-2024/">The Top 7 Long-Term Stocks to Buy in April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

The Top 7 Long-Term Stocks to Buy in April 2024

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Now that the Federal Reserve has made it clear that higher interest rates may be here through summer, investors may be tempted to follow the strategy to sell in May and go away. They may have started a month early.



Recent data from Vanda Research shows that retail investors stopped purchasing stocks at a much greater rate than expected. The <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20240424511/retail-investors-pulled-back-dramatically-on-stock-purchases-in-april-adding-to-markets-woes" target="_blank">firm reported,</a> &ldquo;Indeed, retail buying of single names severely undershot even our most-bearish forecast since late 2020.&rdquo;&nbsp;



Not surprisingly, <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/">tech stocks</a> and <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/semiconductor/">semiconductor stocks</a> were the ones seeing the largest volume declines.&nbsp;



The research firm expected some seasonal decline due to tax season. However, some of the ambivalence&nbsp;may have had to do with interest rates. Equities took a steep turn south after members of the Fed started making hawkish remarks.



It wouldn&rsquo;t be that investors don&rsquo;t have options. Fixed-income investments are generating their best rate of return in well over a decade. Money has been shifting into precious metals, particularly gold. Cryptocurrency, led by Bitcoin (<a href="https://investorplace.com/cryptocurrency/btc-usd/">BTC-USD</a>), is attracting risk-tolerant investors.



And you can understand why investors believe that time is on their side. Historically, stocks go down after the Fed lowers interest rates.



But as the saying goes, time in the market is more important than timing the market. And if you&rsquo;re not in the market when the Fed pivots, you&rsquo;ll miss out on the biggest gains when the bear begins to roar again. And besides, there are still some really good options if you want to stay in stocks. Here are three time-honored strategies you can execute immediately.



<h2>Get Defensive&nbsp;</h2>



It may be time to get defensive. That was supposed to be the playbook for 2023. But artificial intelligence (<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ai-stock-quote/">AI</a>) pulled the market out of its doldrums.



This time around, it&rsquo;s the tech sector that&rsquo;s slumping. That means it&rsquo;s time to look for those companies that sell products and services consumers will continue to buy even as they continue to be pinched by stubborn inflation.



And make no mistake. They&rsquo;re feeling the pinch. Walmart (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) and Costco (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cost-stock-quote/">COST</a>) are two retailers that have expressed cautious guidance as consumers cut back on discretionary spending. However, these are also two companies that will continue to post solid revenue and earnings. Plus, they pay a reliable dividend.



Another attribute to look for in defensive stocks is pricing power. Higher inflation adds to the cost of goods sold. The best companies can manage to pass at least some of that cost along to consumers.



<h2>Only the Best</h2>



Some troubled stocks may be about to get really cheap. But, frequently, cheap stocks are cheap for a reason. These companies are often unprofitable and may not even have revenue coming in the door.



These stocks may be worth a look in good times. However, higher interest rates make the cost of borrowing more expensive. Since these companies are still borrowing to grow, their balance sheets, which are already poor, will only get worse.&nbsp;



Instead, look for some quality stocks that are on sale. It can allow you to buy shares of companies on your watchlist that you have been waiting for an opportunity to buy.



Keep it simple. Look for companies that have made money in the past, are making money now and will make money in the future.&nbsp;



Buy the best, and forget the rest.



<h2>Look for High-Yield Dividend Stocks&nbsp;</h2>



In March 2023, a bunch of high net-worth investors pumped money into Treasury notes after the rate on the 2-year reached 5%. That rate is still around 4.9% today, and investors may be looking at money markets or even I-bonds as an alternative to stocks.&nbsp;



However, this is a good time to look at some <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-high-yield-dividend-stocks-to-buy-with-payouts-over-8/" target="_blank">high-yield dividend stocks</a> with a dividend yield higher than the interest rates on Treasury bills. Stocks like Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/vz-stock-quote/">VZ</a>), Altria (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mo-stock-quote/">MO</a>) and Energy Transfer (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/et-stock-quote/">ET</a>) all have high-yield dividends and may have growth drivers that could drive the stock price higher, adding to your total return.



On the date of publication, Chris Markoch did not hold (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 InvestorPlace.com<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank"> Publishing Guidelines.</a>&nbsp;
<div>Chris Markoch is a freelance financial copywriter who has been covering the market for over five years. He has been writing for InvestorPlace since 2019.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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						<a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/07/elon-musks-project-omega-stuns-silicon-valley-insiders/?cid=MKT738510&amp;eid=MKT771236">Musk&rsquo;s &ldquo;Project Omega&rdquo; May Be Set to Mint New Millionaires. Here&rsquo;s How to Get In.</a>
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						<a href="https://investorplace.com/2021/01/one-percenter-issues-urgent-warning/?cid=MKT499868&amp;eid=MKT793997">It doesn&rsquo;t matter if you have $500 or $5 million. Do this now.</a>
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	The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-investing-moves-to-make-now-while-the-fed-is-in-a-holding-pattern/">3 Investing Moves to Make Now While the Fed Is in a Holding Pattern</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

3 Investing Moves to Make Now While the Fed Is in a Holding Pattern

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