Where Columbus, central Ohio cities stand on their DEI initiatives
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January requiring federal agencies to cease nearly all DEI programs and directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate private companies with similar initiatives.
Since then, Columbus-based Nationwide Insurance has joined other U.S. corporations, like Target and Amazon, in altering its diversity program, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has joined a campaign pressuring Costco to abandon its initiatives.
Although this order doesn't directly impact local authorities, central Ohio cities like Columbus, Dublin, Grandview Heights, Hilliard, New Albany, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington reaffirmed to NBC4 their commitment to diversity programs. Other municipalities, including Bexley, Reynoldsburg and Whitehall, did not respond to request for comment.
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A Columbus spokesperson said city council's commitment to equity and inclusion remains 'unwavering.' The city is home to The Mayor's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which advances efforts to shape Columbus into 'America's Equal Opportunity City' by supporting opportunities for 'every individual, family and community to share in economic prosperity.'
'While we are continuing to study all the federal policy changes, council's priority is a Columbus where every resident feels safe and has the opportunity to thrive,' the spokesperson said. 'Equity will continue to be a commitment to our residents.'
Dublin City Council said the city's DEI policies remain as stated online. This includes the Community Inclusion Advisory Committee created in 2021 to serve as the new iteration of the Community Task Force, responsible for 'combating and prohibiting social injustice, inequity, intolerance, negative stereotyping and discrimination.'
Dublin is also home to a 2021 nondiscrimination ordinance establishing protections for people experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and pregnancy, among other protected statuses. In addition, the city has appointed a LGBTQ+ liaison who reviews and helps create inclusive policies.
'Dublin City Council is committed to representing the interests of all members of the Dublin community while leading the region as a global city of choice,' the spokesperson said. 'The city continues to monitor all federal directives through the lens of their potential impact on our community and municipal operations.'
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A Grandview Heights spokesperson said the city remains committed to nondiscrimination in all its practices, and expects all business partners to also not discriminate against employees or contractors. The city's council has previously passed a resolution supporting LGBTQ+ Pride Month and another affirming its promise to establish inclusive housing options for all residents.
'While the city continues to evaluate the validity of any federal executive orders, or any impact they have on city business, it will continue to adhere to equal opportunity employment practices,' the spokesperson said.
Hilliard City Council, which passed an ordinance in 2021 prohibiting unlawful discriminatory practices in employment, housing, and public accommodations, said it has no intentions to change its policies. As part of that ordinance, city council enacted a process to address discrimination complaints, a spokesperson noted.
New Albany currently has an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Implementation Panel that city council created in 2020 in response to the results of a citizen survey indicating that some residents don't feel a strong sense of belonging to the community. A spokesperson said the panel's purpose is to develop programs that foster belonging and encourage broader community involvement.
Since its launch, the panel has held Juneteenth and Diwali celebrations, and other events like Miracle League Family Fun Day, Souper Supper, EmpowHer and New Albany 101 learning opportunities.
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'We believe the IDEA Implementation Panel has played an important role in the city's efforts to encourage a greater sense of belonging its residents,' the spokesperson said. 'In 2025, the panel will continue existing programming while also focusing on accessibility within the community and the launch of a Community Connectors program.'
Upper Arlington Mayor and City Council President Ukeme Awakessien Jeter said in a statement the council hasn't formally discussed or taken action regarding its diversity initiatives but affirmed 'Upper Arlington is proud to be a welcoming community.' The city is home to antidiscrimination legislation and a 2020 resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
'We remain committed to fostering an environment that embraces everyone, regardless of background, identity or experience,' said Awakessien Jeter. 'While we continue to monitor actions at the federal and state-level, to date we have not seen any executive orders or other changes that would require adjustments to our existing programs, policies or laws.'
Monica Dupee, city manager of Westerville, said during a Feb. 4 council meeting that Westerville 'intends to honor the promises our community has made to be welcoming, inclusive and inviting to families who live here, students who learn here and workplaces for people who spend their days here.'
Westerville is home to a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging division that Dupee formed in 2021, along with ordinances adopted in 2019 aimed at preventing unlawful discrimination and another prohibiting ethnic intimidation.
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'It has become clear, the last few weeks, that DEI programs are changing at the federal level,' said Dupee. 'Our DEIB framework is not about politics, it is focused on programs to promote a safe and inclusive community for all. It helps our staff understand how to lead, manage and represent this community at our professional and personal bests.'
Worthington has advanced several DEI efforts, like a nondiscrimination ordinance, a resolution promoting racial equity, and statements of support for Asian Americans and the Jewish community. A spokesperson said city council has not discussed these programs at recent meetings.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Stock market today: Dow rises, S&P 500, Nasdaq slide as tech stocks slip again amid rate-cut uncertainty
US stocks mostly slid on Wednesday, continuing a bruising stretch for tech stocks as investors weighed the latest retail earnings and assessed Federal Reserve minutes for clues on interest-rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) closed slightly higher, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) led the losses, declining about 0.7%. The Nasdaq had been down nearly 2% earlier in the session before recovering. After a nearly 10% drop on Tuesday, Palantir (PLTR) fell another 1% in afternoon trade after slipping as much as 9% earlier in the day. The tech-led sell-off has put markets on edge, as investors rotate out of riskier stocks into previously lagging sectors amid concerns about the AI boom's staying power. Meanwhile, Wednesday's release of minutes from the Fed's July meeting showed the two policymakers who voted against the decision to leave rates unchanged appeared largely alone in that opinion. Investors are eager for a sense of where policymakers stand on interest rate cuts after economic data this month revealed they face a tricky dilemma between a weakening labor market and stubborn inflation. Attention is also on the latest batch of big retail earnings, with Target's (TGT) results the highlight on Wednesday. Target eked out a profit beat and held to its guidance, but pressures from tariffs and a squeezed consumer added up to another downbeat quarter — and will pose challenges for newly announced CEO Michael Fiddelke. Its shares sank 6%. Next up are Walmart (WMT) earnings on Thursday, watched for further signs of how companies and consumers are handing President Trump's tariffs. Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs The main event for Wall Street lands on Friday, when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will deliver remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium in Wyoming. Tech, chip stock sell-off continues as AI bubble fears mount Yahoo Finance's Laura Bratton reports: Tech stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday as investors sold off a slew of tech names amid concerns over the sustainability of the AI boom and a recent market rotation away from some of this year's biggest winners. Among the Magnificent Seven Big Tech stocks, Nvidia (NVDA) was down about 0.3%, and Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) stock fell more than 1%. Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL), shares fell over 1%. Chip stocks Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) both fell less than 1%; Micron (MU) shares plummeted nearly 4%. Read more here. Retail traders double down on Palantir despite recent stock slide Palantir (PLTR) shares dropped another 1% on Wednesday following a sharp 9% slide on Tuesday. But retail investors saw the drop as a buying opportunity. According to data provided to Yahoo Finance from Vanda Research, small investors poured over $59 million into Palantir during Tuesday's sell-off, marking the biggest single-day retail inflow in a week. That came on top of another $40 million in inflows the day before. The surge in retail demand highlights a classic 'buy the dip' mentality that has dominated markets since the April bottom. In the days leading up to the sell-off, retail flows had been steady but more modest, averaging in the $20 to $30 million range, according to Vanda. The jump in activity suggests everyday traders were not scared off by the stock's sudden slide. Instead, they leaned in. But even with retail piling in, the stock still fell hard. That divergence underscores a familiar market reality: while retail can be a powerful force, institutional selling pressure often sets the tone. "Retail has gotten to be such a huge percentage of the market in terms of day-to-day trading," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday. "But if a series of institutions decide to reallocate their portfolio holdings, you're standing in the way of a much larger piece of momentum." "Collectively, a whole lot of small traders can push back, but if [institutions] are relentless about the selling, that's going to move the market lower.' Sosnick called Palantir's 9% plunge a 'shocking move down,' but also pointed out that the stock's meteoric rise has left it trading at "about as expensive of a stock as we've seen." James Hardie stock collapses 35% as US housing slump hits building materials Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre reports: James Hardie (JHX) stock tumbled 35% on Wednesday as the maker of high-end home siding pointed to a weak US housing market and homeowners reluctant to spend on big projects. The stock, listed in the US and Australia, saw its biggest one-day drop since 1973, according to Bloomberg data. The company's profit declined 28% year over year during its fiscal first quarter. Net sales tumbled 9% over the same period. "Uncertainty is a common thread throughout conversations with customer and contractor partners," CEO Aaron Erter said during the company's earnings call. James Hardie pointed to "softer demand," citing a slowdown in single-family construction activity, especially in the southern part of the US. Read more here. Fed minutes show majority of officials more concerned about inflation than employment Minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed the "majority" of officials were more concerned about the upside risk to inflation than downside risks to the Fed's mandate for maximum employment. "Regarding upside risks to inflation, participants pointed to the uncertain effects of tariffs and the possibility of inflation expectations becoming unanchored," the minutes read. "In addition to tariff-induced risks, potential downside risks to employment mentioned by participants included a possible tightening of financial conditions due to a rise in risk premiums, a more substantial deterioration in the housing market, and the risk that the increased use of AI in the workplace may lower employment." Read more about the Fed minutes here. Eight sectors are outperforming the S&P 500 on Wednesday Citi head of US equity trading strategy Stuart Kaiser noted on Tuesday that the recent pain the stock market has "remained localized." And that's holding true on Wednesday too despite a roughly 1% decline in the Nasdaq Composite. The pain is mostly in technology and other related areas of the market with eight of 11 sectors in the S&P 500 (^GSPC)outperforming the benchmark index. While the size of tech in the index is pulling down the overall S&P 500 there are actually still 265 stocks in positive territory with a little over two hours left in the trading session. For now the rotation in the market isn't shaking a bullish stance from Kaiser who remains positive on US equities with a "quality preference." Below is a look at the sector action thus far in Wednesday's trade. Google unveils latest Pixel phones, including foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Google (GOOG, GOOGL) announced its latest line of Pixel smartphones on Wednesday as part of its Made By Google event in New York City on Wednesday. The Pixel 10 lineup includes four phones: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The company also showed off its newest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4. The devices get Google's latest Gemini AI capabilities, including the company's new Magic Cue for its smartphones and enhanced smart replies for the watch. Starting at $799, the entry-level Pixel 10 now comes with three rear cameras, up from two. That includes a 5x telephoto camera. Inside, the 6.3-inch phone gets Google's latest Tensor G5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and upwards of 256GB of storage. The Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 and gets a sharper 6.3-inch display and more-advanced triple-camera setup. And while the phone packs the same Tensor G5 processor as the standard Pixel 10, the Pro sports 16GB of RAM rather than 12GB and offers up to 512GB of storage. Read more here. Hertz stock jumps on deal to sell its used cars on Amazon Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Rental car firm Hertz (HTZ) struck a deal with Amazon Autos (AMZN) on Wednesday to sell some of its used car inventory. The company said this will make it easier for customers to purchase cars from its fleet. Starting today, customers can search Amazon Autos to browse, finance, and purchase from thousands of used Hertz fleet vehicles from brands like Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Nissan, and others. Hertz Car Sales, the rental car firm's used car sales arm, will be the first fleet dealer on Amazon Autos. Hertz said sales will begin in the Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle metro areas, with plans to expand to Hertz Car Sales' 45 locations nationwide. After customers complete their purchase online, they can pick up the vehicles at Hertz locations in those cities. Read more here. KeyBanc warns China headwinds could prompt an Nvidia earnings miss Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Big Tech is getting hammered again Tuesday's market action was all about isolated selling in some of the market's biggest winners. Wednesday's early session has brought more of the same, as Big Tech is clearly leading the selling action once more. After a nearly 10% drop on Tuesday, Palantir (PLTR) fell another 7% in early trade. Meanwhile, AI chip leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) each dropped more than 3%. Trump says Fed governor Cook 'must resign' as pressure campaign on central bank continues President Trump on Wednesday called on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign as the public pressure on the central bank continues to build. "Cook must resign, now!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Wednesday morning with a link to a Bloomberg report on a letter sent by Bill Pulte. The Federal Housing Finance Agency head has reportedly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Cook over a pair of mortgages. Pulte wrote in a letter dated Aug. 15 that Cook 'falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.' The President's call for Cook to resign comes as pressure on the Fed continues amid ongoing changes on the Fed's Board of Governors. Read more here. Nasdaq leads indexes lower again at the open US stocks were mixed on Wednesday after a bruising day for tech stocks, as investors weighed the latest retail earnings and waited for Federal Reserve minutes to provide clues to interest rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up about 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell roughly 0.4%, after weakness in the likes of Palantir (PLTR) and Nvidia (NVDA) dragged on the broader market on Tuesday. Post-earnings market movers: Target and La-Z-Boy stocks dive, Lowe's rises Here's a look at how Wall Street is reacting to a burst of earnings reports ahead of the opening bell on Wednesday: Target (TGT) stock dived more than 10%, facing its worst sell-off since early April. The retailer cleared a low bar of earnings expectations, but comparable sales continued to fall during the quarter. Lowe's (LOW) stock rose 2.5%. The home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, echoing positive results from Home Depot (HD) on Tuesday. Home Depot stock fell 1.3% before the bell. Estée Lauder (EL) shares fell 5%. The beauty company's annual profit forecast disappointed and executives said they expect a $100 million headwind from tariffs. Baidu (BIDU) shares edged 0.2% lower. The Chinese search engine company reported a drop in second quarter revenue as strong growth in cloud services was offset by weakness in its core advertising business. Toll Brothers (TOL) stock added 0.45%. The homebuilder reported an earnings and revenue beat on Tuesday afternoon, though new orders were less than analysts' expected. La-Z-Boy (LZB) stock tanked 20% after the company missed estimates amid soft demand. Sales for its Joybird furniture brand declined 14%. Read more live coverage of corporate earnings here Hertz to sell used cars on Amazon, stock jumps Hertz (HTZ) stock rose over 10% after the car rental company announced it is teaming up with Amazon (AMZN) to sell pre-owned vehicles. Customers will be able to browse Hertz used car sales on Amazon, purchase vehicles online, and then pick them up at select Hertz locations. It will initially be offered in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with plans to expand to 45 locations nationwide. Hertz sells pre-owned cars in addition to renting them out. The company is in the midst of a turnaround, and shares have outperformed this year with a 42% year-to-date rise. Read more here. Intel's advantages from a Trump deal could be worth as much as the money What would it take for Intel (INTC) to turn its business around? Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban digs into that question in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' Continuation funds have become hugely popular among America's biggest private fund managers this year. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith breaks down why, and exactly how they work: Read more here. Palantir stock on track to extend losing streak Palantir stock (PLTR) looks like it may extend its losing streak to six trading days after reaching an all-time high. Shares fell 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday after a 9% decline on Tuesday. Since hitting $186.97 per share on Aug. 12, the stock is now trading around $153, putting it 18% off its record closing high. Investors rotating out of large-cap tech names and a bearish report from short seller Citron Research have weighed on the stock. Read more here. Target stock sinks after earnings eke out a beat, but sales keep falling Target's (TGT) results on Wednesday morning weren't as shockingly bad as for the first quarter, but the retailer is still struggling to find its place in the new economic norm of more discerning shoppers. Shares in the US retail giant sank 10% in premarket trading as the announcement of a new CEO still left investors wanting more. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: FOMC Minutes (July 30-31 meeting); MBA weekly mortgage applications Earnings: Target (TGT), Baidu (BIDU), Lowe's (LOW), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Target earnings miss the mark as sales keep falling Target will have a new CEO for the first time since 2014 Intel's Trump deal perks may rival the money Buffett effect still holds as UnitedHealth soars through August This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' US housing warning sparks worst James Hardie selloff since 1973 US treasury chief says status quo with China 'working pretty well' Sales of foreign-branded phones in China down 31.3% in June: Data China exports of key rare-earth EV magnets hit 6-month high Target will have a new CEO... and he will not have it easy Target (TGT) is tapping a homegrown talent as its next CEO at one of the most pivotal moments in its 63-year history. The discounter announced that longtime CEO Brian Cornell's heavily groomed No. 2, Michael Fiddelke, will take over as CEO on Feb. 1, 2026. Cornell, who has been CEO of Target since August 2014, will slide into the executive chair position for an undetermined period of time. Fiddelke joined Target in 2003 as an intern and rose through the ranks to CFO and then COO. "I've had this conversation with the board for a number of years, and I've been in the role for 11 years. I'm going into my 12th now. I will actually turn 67 early next year, and I think it's time for me to step back, recharge, spend a lot more time with my family, a lot fewer nights in hotels, and be a great supporter of Michael and the team for the rest of my life," Cornell told me by video call while sitting next to Fiddelke at the company's Minneapolis headquarters. Fiddelke added, "I bleed Target red after 20 years here, and there's nothing more important to me than working with the incredible team that we have to chart the next chapter for Target. I mean, I've seen us in that 20 years at our best. I've seen us not at our best. When we're at our best, we are pretty darn tough to beat." To students of Target history such as myself, this decision isn't a surprise. For one, Fiddelke has been Cornell's right-hand man for several years now. It has become quite apparent over the past year that he was grooming Fiddelke to take over while also working behind the scenes to get board buy-in. I have gotten to know Fiddelke in recent years. He is a nice fella and has indeed earned the opportunity to sit in the CEO seat. If this was any other time for Target, the decision would probably be celebrated. It's not often an intern at a company becomes its CEO. The only comparable story I can think of is Walmart (WMT) CEO Doug McMillon going from truck loader at the retailer to CEO. But Fiddelke will unlikely have a honeymoon period, seeing as he has been there at Target during its past 24 months of struggles (which includes a weak second quarter). People I have talked to wanted an outsider as Target's next CEO, fresh eyes to come in and fix what is wrong (not unlike when Cornell was brought in back in 2014 — his career was mostly spent at Walmart and PepsiCo (PEP)). Fiddelke will be seen as a continuation of a strategy that hasn't been working. I asked him on the call how candid he plans to be in the early going on the strategy review, which is what all new leaders do. He sounded like he was ready to divert from Cornell's playbook and shake things up. He will have to do just that, and quickly, to win over a likely skeptical Wall Street. US tech stocks hit by concerns over future of AI boom Wall Street is digging into the factors behind this week's selloff in tech stocks, with many seeing it as a timely rotation out of riskier names. There are a few potential triggers, the Financial Times reports: Read more here (premium) Tech, chip stock sell-off continues as AI bubble fears mount Yahoo Finance's Laura Bratton reports: Tech stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday as investors sold off a slew of tech names amid concerns over the sustainability of the AI boom and a recent market rotation away from some of this year's biggest winners. Among the Magnificent Seven Big Tech stocks, Nvidia (NVDA) was down about 0.3%, and Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) stock fell more than 1%. Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL), shares fell over 1%. Chip stocks Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) both fell less than 1%; Micron (MU) shares plummeted nearly 4%. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Laura Bratton reports: Tech stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday as investors sold off a slew of tech names amid concerns over the sustainability of the AI boom and a recent market rotation away from some of this year's biggest winners. Among the Magnificent Seven Big Tech stocks, Nvidia (NVDA) was down about 0.3%, and Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) stock fell more than 1%. Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL), shares fell over 1%. Chip stocks Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) both fell less than 1%; Micron (MU) shares plummeted nearly 4%. Read more here. Retail traders double down on Palantir despite recent stock slide Palantir (PLTR) shares dropped another 1% on Wednesday following a sharp 9% slide on Tuesday. But retail investors saw the drop as a buying opportunity. According to data provided to Yahoo Finance from Vanda Research, small investors poured over $59 million into Palantir during Tuesday's sell-off, marking the biggest single-day retail inflow in a week. That came on top of another $40 million in inflows the day before. The surge in retail demand highlights a classic 'buy the dip' mentality that has dominated markets since the April bottom. In the days leading up to the sell-off, retail flows had been steady but more modest, averaging in the $20 to $30 million range, according to Vanda. The jump in activity suggests everyday traders were not scared off by the stock's sudden slide. Instead, they leaned in. But even with retail piling in, the stock still fell hard. That divergence underscores a familiar market reality: while retail can be a powerful force, institutional selling pressure often sets the tone. "Retail has gotten to be such a huge percentage of the market in terms of day-to-day trading," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday. "But if a series of institutions decide to reallocate their portfolio holdings, you're standing in the way of a much larger piece of momentum." "Collectively, a whole lot of small traders can push back, but if [institutions] are relentless about the selling, that's going to move the market lower.' Sosnick called Palantir's 9% plunge a 'shocking move down,' but also pointed out that the stock's meteoric rise has left it trading at "about as expensive of a stock as we've seen." Palantir (PLTR) shares dropped another 1% on Wednesday following a sharp 9% slide on Tuesday. But retail investors saw the drop as a buying opportunity. According to data provided to Yahoo Finance from Vanda Research, small investors poured over $59 million into Palantir during Tuesday's sell-off, marking the biggest single-day retail inflow in a week. That came on top of another $40 million in inflows the day before. The surge in retail demand highlights a classic 'buy the dip' mentality that has dominated markets since the April bottom. In the days leading up to the sell-off, retail flows had been steady but more modest, averaging in the $20 to $30 million range, according to Vanda. The jump in activity suggests everyday traders were not scared off by the stock's sudden slide. Instead, they leaned in. But even with retail piling in, the stock still fell hard. That divergence underscores a familiar market reality: while retail can be a powerful force, institutional selling pressure often sets the tone. "Retail has gotten to be such a huge percentage of the market in terms of day-to-day trading," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday. "But if a series of institutions decide to reallocate their portfolio holdings, you're standing in the way of a much larger piece of momentum." "Collectively, a whole lot of small traders can push back, but if [institutions] are relentless about the selling, that's going to move the market lower.' Sosnick called Palantir's 9% plunge a 'shocking move down,' but also pointed out that the stock's meteoric rise has left it trading at "about as expensive of a stock as we've seen." James Hardie stock collapses 35% as US housing slump hits building materials Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre reports: James Hardie (JHX) stock tumbled 35% on Wednesday as the maker of high-end home siding pointed to a weak US housing market and homeowners reluctant to spend on big projects. The stock, listed in the US and Australia, saw its biggest one-day drop since 1973, according to Bloomberg data. The company's profit declined 28% year over year during its fiscal first quarter. Net sales tumbled 9% over the same period. "Uncertainty is a common thread throughout conversations with customer and contractor partners," CEO Aaron Erter said during the company's earnings call. James Hardie pointed to "softer demand," citing a slowdown in single-family construction activity, especially in the southern part of the US. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre reports: James Hardie (JHX) stock tumbled 35% on Wednesday as the maker of high-end home siding pointed to a weak US housing market and homeowners reluctant to spend on big projects. The stock, listed in the US and Australia, saw its biggest one-day drop since 1973, according to Bloomberg data. The company's profit declined 28% year over year during its fiscal first quarter. Net sales tumbled 9% over the same period. "Uncertainty is a common thread throughout conversations with customer and contractor partners," CEO Aaron Erter said during the company's earnings call. James Hardie pointed to "softer demand," citing a slowdown in single-family construction activity, especially in the southern part of the US. Read more here. Fed minutes show majority of officials more concerned about inflation than employment Minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed the "majority" of officials were more concerned about the upside risk to inflation than downside risks to the Fed's mandate for maximum employment. "Regarding upside risks to inflation, participants pointed to the uncertain effects of tariffs and the possibility of inflation expectations becoming unanchored," the minutes read. "In addition to tariff-induced risks, potential downside risks to employment mentioned by participants included a possible tightening of financial conditions due to a rise in risk premiums, a more substantial deterioration in the housing market, and the risk that the increased use of AI in the workplace may lower employment." Read more about the Fed minutes here. Minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed the "majority" of officials were more concerned about the upside risk to inflation than downside risks to the Fed's mandate for maximum employment. "Regarding upside risks to inflation, participants pointed to the uncertain effects of tariffs and the possibility of inflation expectations becoming unanchored," the minutes read. "In addition to tariff-induced risks, potential downside risks to employment mentioned by participants included a possible tightening of financial conditions due to a rise in risk premiums, a more substantial deterioration in the housing market, and the risk that the increased use of AI in the workplace may lower employment." Read more about the Fed minutes here. Eight sectors are outperforming the S&P 500 on Wednesday Citi head of US equity trading strategy Stuart Kaiser noted on Tuesday that the recent pain the stock market has "remained localized." And that's holding true on Wednesday too despite a roughly 1% decline in the Nasdaq Composite. The pain is mostly in technology and other related areas of the market with eight of 11 sectors in the S&P 500 (^GSPC)outperforming the benchmark index. While the size of tech in the index is pulling down the overall S&P 500 there are actually still 265 stocks in positive territory with a little over two hours left in the trading session. For now the rotation in the market isn't shaking a bullish stance from Kaiser who remains positive on US equities with a "quality preference." Below is a look at the sector action thus far in Wednesday's trade. Citi head of US equity trading strategy Stuart Kaiser noted on Tuesday that the recent pain the stock market has "remained localized." And that's holding true on Wednesday too despite a roughly 1% decline in the Nasdaq Composite. The pain is mostly in technology and other related areas of the market with eight of 11 sectors in the S&P 500 (^GSPC)outperforming the benchmark index. While the size of tech in the index is pulling down the overall S&P 500 there are actually still 265 stocks in positive territory with a little over two hours left in the trading session. For now the rotation in the market isn't shaking a bullish stance from Kaiser who remains positive on US equities with a "quality preference." Below is a look at the sector action thus far in Wednesday's trade. Google unveils latest Pixel phones, including foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Google (GOOG, GOOGL) announced its latest line of Pixel smartphones on Wednesday as part of its Made By Google event in New York City on Wednesday. The Pixel 10 lineup includes four phones: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The company also showed off its newest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4. The devices get Google's latest Gemini AI capabilities, including the company's new Magic Cue for its smartphones and enhanced smart replies for the watch. Starting at $799, the entry-level Pixel 10 now comes with three rear cameras, up from two. That includes a 5x telephoto camera. Inside, the 6.3-inch phone gets Google's latest Tensor G5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and upwards of 256GB of storage. The Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 and gets a sharper 6.3-inch display and more-advanced triple-camera setup. And while the phone packs the same Tensor G5 processor as the standard Pixel 10, the Pro sports 16GB of RAM rather than 12GB and offers up to 512GB of storage. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Google (GOOG, GOOGL) announced its latest line of Pixel smartphones on Wednesday as part of its Made By Google event in New York City on Wednesday. The Pixel 10 lineup includes four phones: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The company also showed off its newest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4. The devices get Google's latest Gemini AI capabilities, including the company's new Magic Cue for its smartphones and enhanced smart replies for the watch. Starting at $799, the entry-level Pixel 10 now comes with three rear cameras, up from two. That includes a 5x telephoto camera. Inside, the 6.3-inch phone gets Google's latest Tensor G5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and upwards of 256GB of storage. The Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 and gets a sharper 6.3-inch display and more-advanced triple-camera setup. And while the phone packs the same Tensor G5 processor as the standard Pixel 10, the Pro sports 16GB of RAM rather than 12GB and offers up to 512GB of storage. Read more here. Hertz stock jumps on deal to sell its used cars on Amazon Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Rental car firm Hertz (HTZ) struck a deal with Amazon Autos (AMZN) on Wednesday to sell some of its used car inventory. The company said this will make it easier for customers to purchase cars from its fleet. Starting today, customers can search Amazon Autos to browse, finance, and purchase from thousands of used Hertz fleet vehicles from brands like Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Nissan, and others. Hertz Car Sales, the rental car firm's used car sales arm, will be the first fleet dealer on Amazon Autos. Hertz said sales will begin in the Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle metro areas, with plans to expand to Hertz Car Sales' 45 locations nationwide. After customers complete their purchase online, they can pick up the vehicles at Hertz locations in those cities. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Rental car firm Hertz (HTZ) struck a deal with Amazon Autos (AMZN) on Wednesday to sell some of its used car inventory. The company said this will make it easier for customers to purchase cars from its fleet. Starting today, customers can search Amazon Autos to browse, finance, and purchase from thousands of used Hertz fleet vehicles from brands like Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Nissan, and others. Hertz Car Sales, the rental car firm's used car sales arm, will be the first fleet dealer on Amazon Autos. Hertz said sales will begin in the Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle metro areas, with plans to expand to Hertz Car Sales' 45 locations nationwide. After customers complete their purchase online, they can pick up the vehicles at Hertz locations in those cities. Read more here. KeyBanc warns China headwinds could prompt an Nvidia earnings miss Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Big Tech is getting hammered again Tuesday's market action was all about isolated selling in some of the market's biggest winners. Wednesday's early session has brought more of the same, as Big Tech is clearly leading the selling action once more. After a nearly 10% drop on Tuesday, Palantir (PLTR) fell another 7% in early trade. Meanwhile, AI chip leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) each dropped more than 3%. Tuesday's market action was all about isolated selling in some of the market's biggest winners. Wednesday's early session has brought more of the same, as Big Tech is clearly leading the selling action once more. After a nearly 10% drop on Tuesday, Palantir (PLTR) fell another 7% in early trade. Meanwhile, AI chip leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) each dropped more than 3%. Trump says Fed governor Cook 'must resign' as pressure campaign on central bank continues President Trump on Wednesday called on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign as the public pressure on the central bank continues to build. "Cook must resign, now!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Wednesday morning with a link to a Bloomberg report on a letter sent by Bill Pulte. The Federal Housing Finance Agency head has reportedly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Cook over a pair of mortgages. Pulte wrote in a letter dated Aug. 15 that Cook 'falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.' The President's call for Cook to resign comes as pressure on the Fed continues amid ongoing changes on the Fed's Board of Governors. Read more here. President Trump on Wednesday called on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign as the public pressure on the central bank continues to build. "Cook must resign, now!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Wednesday morning with a link to a Bloomberg report on a letter sent by Bill Pulte. The Federal Housing Finance Agency head has reportedly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Cook over a pair of mortgages. Pulte wrote in a letter dated Aug. 15 that Cook 'falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.' The President's call for Cook to resign comes as pressure on the Fed continues amid ongoing changes on the Fed's Board of Governors. Read more here. Nasdaq leads indexes lower again at the open US stocks were mixed on Wednesday after a bruising day for tech stocks, as investors weighed the latest retail earnings and waited for Federal Reserve minutes to provide clues to interest rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up about 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell roughly 0.4%, after weakness in the likes of Palantir (PLTR) and Nvidia (NVDA) dragged on the broader market on Tuesday. US stocks were mixed on Wednesday after a bruising day for tech stocks, as investors weighed the latest retail earnings and waited for Federal Reserve minutes to provide clues to interest rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up about 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell roughly 0.4%, after weakness in the likes of Palantir (PLTR) and Nvidia (NVDA) dragged on the broader market on Tuesday. Post-earnings market movers: Target and La-Z-Boy stocks dive, Lowe's rises Here's a look at how Wall Street is reacting to a burst of earnings reports ahead of the opening bell on Wednesday: Target (TGT) stock dived more than 10%, facing its worst sell-off since early April. The retailer cleared a low bar of earnings expectations, but comparable sales continued to fall during the quarter. Lowe's (LOW) stock rose 2.5%. The home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, echoing positive results from Home Depot (HD) on Tuesday. Home Depot stock fell 1.3% before the bell. Estée Lauder (EL) shares fell 5%. The beauty company's annual profit forecast disappointed and executives said they expect a $100 million headwind from tariffs. Baidu (BIDU) shares edged 0.2% lower. The Chinese search engine company reported a drop in second quarter revenue as strong growth in cloud services was offset by weakness in its core advertising business. Toll Brothers (TOL) stock added 0.45%. The homebuilder reported an earnings and revenue beat on Tuesday afternoon, though new orders were less than analysts' expected. La-Z-Boy (LZB) stock tanked 20% after the company missed estimates amid soft demand. Sales for its Joybird furniture brand declined 14%. Read more live coverage of corporate earnings here Here's a look at how Wall Street is reacting to a burst of earnings reports ahead of the opening bell on Wednesday: Target (TGT) stock dived more than 10%, facing its worst sell-off since early April. The retailer cleared a low bar of earnings expectations, but comparable sales continued to fall during the quarter. Lowe's (LOW) stock rose 2.5%. The home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, echoing positive results from Home Depot (HD) on Tuesday. Home Depot stock fell 1.3% before the bell. Estée Lauder (EL) shares fell 5%. The beauty company's annual profit forecast disappointed and executives said they expect a $100 million headwind from tariffs. Baidu (BIDU) shares edged 0.2% lower. The Chinese search engine company reported a drop in second quarter revenue as strong growth in cloud services was offset by weakness in its core advertising business. Toll Brothers (TOL) stock added 0.45%. The homebuilder reported an earnings and revenue beat on Tuesday afternoon, though new orders were less than analysts' expected. La-Z-Boy (LZB) stock tanked 20% after the company missed estimates amid soft demand. Sales for its Joybird furniture brand declined 14%. Read more live coverage of corporate earnings here Hertz to sell used cars on Amazon, stock jumps Hertz (HTZ) stock rose over 10% after the car rental company announced it is teaming up with Amazon (AMZN) to sell pre-owned vehicles. Customers will be able to browse Hertz used car sales on Amazon, purchase vehicles online, and then pick them up at select Hertz locations. It will initially be offered in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with plans to expand to 45 locations nationwide. Hertz sells pre-owned cars in addition to renting them out. The company is in the midst of a turnaround, and shares have outperformed this year with a 42% year-to-date rise. Read more here. Hertz (HTZ) stock rose over 10% after the car rental company announced it is teaming up with Amazon (AMZN) to sell pre-owned vehicles. Customers will be able to browse Hertz used car sales on Amazon, purchase vehicles online, and then pick them up at select Hertz locations. It will initially be offered in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with plans to expand to 45 locations nationwide. Hertz sells pre-owned cars in addition to renting them out. The company is in the midst of a turnaround, and shares have outperformed this year with a 42% year-to-date rise. Read more here. Intel's advantages from a Trump deal could be worth as much as the money What would it take for Intel (INTC) to turn its business around? Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban digs into that question in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. What would it take for Intel (INTC) to turn its business around? Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban digs into that question in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' Continuation funds have become hugely popular among America's biggest private fund managers this year. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith breaks down why, and exactly how they work: Read more here. Continuation funds have become hugely popular among America's biggest private fund managers this year. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith breaks down why, and exactly how they work: Read more here. Palantir stock on track to extend losing streak Palantir stock (PLTR) looks like it may extend its losing streak to six trading days after reaching an all-time high. Shares fell 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday after a 9% decline on Tuesday. Since hitting $186.97 per share on Aug. 12, the stock is now trading around $153, putting it 18% off its record closing high. Investors rotating out of large-cap tech names and a bearish report from short seller Citron Research have weighed on the stock. Read more here. Palantir stock (PLTR) looks like it may extend its losing streak to six trading days after reaching an all-time high. Shares fell 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday after a 9% decline on Tuesday. Since hitting $186.97 per share on Aug. 12, the stock is now trading around $153, putting it 18% off its record closing high. Investors rotating out of large-cap tech names and a bearish report from short seller Citron Research have weighed on the stock. Read more here. Target stock sinks after earnings eke out a beat, but sales keep falling Target's (TGT) results on Wednesday morning weren't as shockingly bad as for the first quarter, but the retailer is still struggling to find its place in the new economic norm of more discerning shoppers. Shares in the US retail giant sank 10% in premarket trading as the announcement of a new CEO still left investors wanting more. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Target's (TGT) results on Wednesday morning weren't as shockingly bad as for the first quarter, but the retailer is still struggling to find its place in the new economic norm of more discerning shoppers. Shares in the US retail giant sank 10% in premarket trading as the announcement of a new CEO still left investors wanting more. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: FOMC Minutes (July 30-31 meeting); MBA weekly mortgage applications Earnings: Target (TGT), Baidu (BIDU), Lowe's (LOW), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Target earnings miss the mark as sales keep falling Target will have a new CEO for the first time since 2014 Intel's Trump deal perks may rival the money Buffett effect still holds as UnitedHealth soars through August This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' US housing warning sparks worst James Hardie selloff since 1973 US treasury chief says status quo with China 'working pretty well' Sales of foreign-branded phones in China down 31.3% in June: Data China exports of key rare-earth EV magnets hit 6-month high Economic data: FOMC Minutes (July 30-31 meeting); MBA weekly mortgage applications Earnings: Target (TGT), Baidu (BIDU), Lowe's (LOW), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Target earnings miss the mark as sales keep falling Target will have a new CEO for the first time since 2014 Intel's Trump deal perks may rival the money Buffett effect still holds as UnitedHealth soars through August This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' US housing warning sparks worst James Hardie selloff since 1973 US treasury chief says status quo with China 'working pretty well' Sales of foreign-branded phones in China down 31.3% in June: Data China exports of key rare-earth EV magnets hit 6-month high Target will have a new CEO... and he will not have it easy Target (TGT) is tapping a homegrown talent as its next CEO at one of the most pivotal moments in its 63-year history. The discounter announced that longtime CEO Brian Cornell's heavily groomed No. 2, Michael Fiddelke, will take over as CEO on Feb. 1, 2026. Cornell, who has been CEO of Target since August 2014, will slide into the executive chair position for an undetermined period of time. Fiddelke joined Target in 2003 as an intern and rose through the ranks to CFO and then COO. "I've had this conversation with the board for a number of years, and I've been in the role for 11 years. I'm going into my 12th now. I will actually turn 67 early next year, and I think it's time for me to step back, recharge, spend a lot more time with my family, a lot fewer nights in hotels, and be a great supporter of Michael and the team for the rest of my life," Cornell told me by video call while sitting next to Fiddelke at the company's Minneapolis headquarters. Fiddelke added, "I bleed Target red after 20 years here, and there's nothing more important to me than working with the incredible team that we have to chart the next chapter for Target. I mean, I've seen us in that 20 years at our best. I've seen us not at our best. When we're at our best, we are pretty darn tough to beat." To students of Target history such as myself, this decision isn't a surprise. For one, Fiddelke has been Cornell's right-hand man for several years now. It has become quite apparent over the past year that he was grooming Fiddelke to take over while also working behind the scenes to get board buy-in. I have gotten to know Fiddelke in recent years. He is a nice fella and has indeed earned the opportunity to sit in the CEO seat. If this was any other time for Target, the decision would probably be celebrated. It's not often an intern at a company becomes its CEO. The only comparable story I can think of is Walmart (WMT) CEO Doug McMillon going from truck loader at the retailer to CEO. But Fiddelke will unlikely have a honeymoon period, seeing as he has been there at Target during its past 24 months of struggles (which includes a weak second quarter). People I have talked to wanted an outsider as Target's next CEO, fresh eyes to come in and fix what is wrong (not unlike when Cornell was brought in back in 2014 — his career was mostly spent at Walmart and PepsiCo (PEP)). Fiddelke will be seen as a continuation of a strategy that hasn't been working. I asked him on the call how candid he plans to be in the early going on the strategy review, which is what all new leaders do. He sounded like he was ready to divert from Cornell's playbook and shake things up. He will have to do just that, and quickly, to win over a likely skeptical Wall Street. Target (TGT) is tapping a homegrown talent as its next CEO at one of the most pivotal moments in its 63-year history. The discounter announced that longtime CEO Brian Cornell's heavily groomed No. 2, Michael Fiddelke, will take over as CEO on Feb. 1, 2026. Cornell, who has been CEO of Target since August 2014, will slide into the executive chair position for an undetermined period of time. Fiddelke joined Target in 2003 as an intern and rose through the ranks to CFO and then COO. "I've had this conversation with the board for a number of years, and I've been in the role for 11 years. I'm going into my 12th now. I will actually turn 67 early next year, and I think it's time for me to step back, recharge, spend a lot more time with my family, a lot fewer nights in hotels, and be a great supporter of Michael and the team for the rest of my life," Cornell told me by video call while sitting next to Fiddelke at the company's Minneapolis headquarters. Fiddelke added, "I bleed Target red after 20 years here, and there's nothing more important to me than working with the incredible team that we have to chart the next chapter for Target. I mean, I've seen us in that 20 years at our best. I've seen us not at our best. When we're at our best, we are pretty darn tough to beat." To students of Target history such as myself, this decision isn't a surprise. For one, Fiddelke has been Cornell's right-hand man for several years now. It has become quite apparent over the past year that he was grooming Fiddelke to take over while also working behind the scenes to get board buy-in. I have gotten to know Fiddelke in recent years. He is a nice fella and has indeed earned the opportunity to sit in the CEO seat. If this was any other time for Target, the decision would probably be celebrated. It's not often an intern at a company becomes its CEO. The only comparable story I can think of is Walmart (WMT) CEO Doug McMillon going from truck loader at the retailer to CEO. But Fiddelke will unlikely have a honeymoon period, seeing as he has been there at Target during its past 24 months of struggles (which includes a weak second quarter). People I have talked to wanted an outsider as Target's next CEO, fresh eyes to come in and fix what is wrong (not unlike when Cornell was brought in back in 2014 — his career was mostly spent at Walmart and PepsiCo (PEP)). Fiddelke will be seen as a continuation of a strategy that hasn't been working. I asked him on the call how candid he plans to be in the early going on the strategy review, which is what all new leaders do. He sounded like he was ready to divert from Cornell's playbook and shake things up. He will have to do just that, and quickly, to win over a likely skeptical Wall Street. US tech stocks hit by concerns over future of AI boom Wall Street is digging into the factors behind this week's selloff in tech stocks, with many seeing it as a timely rotation out of riskier names. There are a few potential triggers, the Financial Times reports: Read more here (premium) Wall Street is digging into the factors behind this week's selloff in tech stocks, with many seeing it as a timely rotation out of riskier names. There are a few potential triggers, the Financial Times reports: Read more here (premium) Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Inicia sesión para acceder a tu portafolio Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información
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Texts Show Jeanine Pirro Gloating About Aiding Trump Campaign While Working At Fox
Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host who's now the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, boasted about helping the Trump campaign while she was working at Fox News, according to texts revealed in newly unredacted court documents. The September 2020 texts from Pirro to Ronna McDaniel, then the chair of the Republican National Committee, were made public Tuesday in filings by voting technology company Smartmatic, which is suing Fox News for defamation related to its election fraud coverage. Related: 'I work so hard for the party across the country,' Pirro texted McDaniel, according to the filings. 'I'm the Number 1 watched show on all news cable all weekend. I work so hard for the President and party.' The U.S. attorney's office in D.C. did not immediately return requests for comment on the texts, which were first reported by The Washington Post on Wednesday. In a text from another newly unredacted filing, Pirro discussed being with Trump in the Oval Office shortly before the 2020 election. In the messages sent to a friend, Pirro said her fellow Fox News host Sean Hannity stormed into the room and used the president's private bathroom. She referred to him as an 'egomaniac.' Pirro, along with Fox News hosts Jesse Watters and Maria Bartiromo, are all named in the lawsuit alongside the network. The filing features several instances of Fox News hosts and guests suggesting that Smartmatic's software altered votes to steal the election from Donald Trump and hand the victory to Joe Biden, which is not backed by any evidence. The network featured Trump lawyer Sidney Powell on Pirro's show, 'Justice with Judge Jeanine,' in November 2020, allowing him to attack Smartmatic on air. When reached for comment, Fox News denied any wrongdoing. 'The evidence shows that Smartmatic's business and reputation were badly suffering long before any claims by President Trump's lawyers on FOX News and that Smartmatic grossly inflated its damage claims to generate headlines and chill free speech,' the statement said. Related: 'Now, in the aftermath of Smartmatic's executives getting indicted for bribery charges, we are eager and ready to continue defending our press freedoms,' the statement continued, referring to the Justice Department charging Smartmatic executives last year for allegedly bribing the former top election official in the Philippines. Related: Federal prosecutors alleged this week that the executives overbilled Los Angeles County for voting machines used during the 2020 election, then put the difference into a 'slush fund' for bribing officials. Both Smartmatic and Fox News have asked for a summary judgment, bypassing a trial. A decision on the lawsuit from Manhattan Judge David Cohen is expected in the coming months, according to The New York Times. Related... The Guy Who Threw A Sandwich At A Federal Officer In D.C. Has Been Charged With A Felony Senate Confirms Former Fox News Host As Top Federal Prosecutor For The Nation's Capital Gavin Newsom's Troll Job Of Trump Is Working Incredibly Well
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Earnings live: Target stock falls with Walmart earnings on deck
Second quarter earnings season is winding down, and with most of the reports in, the results have been mostly positive. Over 92% of S&P 500 index companies have reported results, and as of Aug. 18, analysts expected S&P 500 companies to report an 11% jump in earnings per share during the second quarter. Companies had lower expectations to clear coming into the quarter — analysts expected S&P 500 earnings to rise 5% in Q2, the slowest pace of earnings growth since Q4 2023 — amid President Trump's tariffs, stocks' lofty valuations, and uncertainty about the health of the US economy. Highly anticipated reports from Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), Home Depot (HD), and Lowe's (LOW) are being watched for insights into consumer spending. Other major companies reporting this week include BJ's Wholesale (BJ), TJX Companies (TJX), Ross Stores (ROST), Estée Lauder (EL), Intuit (INTU), Zoom Communications (ZM), Workday (WDAY), Xpeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), La-Z-Boy (LZB), Toll Brothers (TOL), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), and Blink Charging (BLNK). Last week, results came in for Applied Materials (AMAT), Circle (CRCL), Lenovo ( AMC (AMC), Cava (CAVA), Cisco (CSCO), CoreWeave (CRWV), Deere (DE), On (ONON), and Oklo (OKLO). Here are the latest updates from corporate America. Target beat low earnings expectations as sales continue to fall Target (TGT) released its second quarter results on Wednesday. The results are not as bad as the first quarter but declining sales has the retail giant in a bit of a bind. Shares in target fell 8% before the bell Yahoo Finance's executive editor Brian Sozzi looks at the latest from Target and whether it will ever find its place in this new economic environment. Read more here. Walmart earnings expected to show US sales growth continued in Q2 as consumers seek value Walmart (WMT) will report quarterly results Thursday morning before the bell, following on the heels of Target (TGT) earnings Wednesday, which sent shares of the retailer 6% lower. But Walmart is expected to highlight another robust quarter, Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma writes, as consumers search for value amid tariff-related uncertainty. Brooke previews what to look for in Walmart's earnings: Read more here. TJX Companies shares rise after earnings beat and raise TJ Maxx parent TJX Companies (TJX) beat sales and profit estimates for the second quarter and raised its annual profit forecast, boosting shares in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. Lowe's stock rises after same-store sales return to growth Lowe's (LOW) stock popped in premarket trading on Wednesday after the home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, earnings beat, and raised its guidance. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Baidu quarterly revenue falls as weak ads offset cloud growth Reuters reports: Read more here. Estee Lauder forecasts annual profit below estimates as tariffs hit Estee Lauder (EL) stock fell 8% before the bell on Wednesday after the beauty group forecast annual profit below Wall Street estimates, as it grapples with persistent weakness in the US and China markets and tariff uncertainty. Reuters reports: Read more here. Toll Brothers beats on earnings, but new orders decline 4% Toll Brothers (TOL) reported another double beat in its fiscal third quarter, but a slowdown in new orders weighed on the stock, which drifted 1.6% lower after hours. The homebuilder posted diluted earnings per share of $3.73 on home sale revenue of $2.88 billion. Wall Street analysts were expecting earnings per share of $3.64 on revenue of $2.85 billion. After a sluggish spring season in the housing market, there have been signs of a resurgence, with housing starts jumping in July. But mortgage rates that have barely budged, ongoing economic uncertainty, and affordability challenges for buyers continue to weigh on the sector. For the quarter, Toll Brothers noted it had 2,388 units under signed contract, a 4% decline from a year ago. Analysts had expected orders growth. "The average sales price of new contracts was $1.0 million, up 4.5% year-over-year," CEO Douglas Yearley said in the earnings release. "Contract dollars were flat despite a 4% decline in units. While affordability pressures and uncertain economic conditions persist, we are pleased with the resilience of our luxury business and more affluent customer base." La-Z-Boy stock drops on soft earnings and guidance La-Z-Boy stock (LZB) dropped 16% in after-hours trading after the company missed earnings estimates and navigated "soft industry demand." Overall, comparable sales dropped 1% to $492 million from a year ago. Sales in the furniture retailer's wholesale segment increased 1%, and retail sales rose 5%, but they were offset by weakness in the Joybird brand, which saw sales decline 14%. La-Z-Boy reported diluted earnings per share of $0.44, compared to $0.61 per share a year ago. The Street was looking for earnings of $0.52 per share. La-Z-Boy's guidance also came in lighter than expected. It expects sales in the range of $510 million to $530 million in the fiscal second quarter. Wall Street was looking for $532 million, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Medtronic appoints 2 new board members, posts Q1 beat Irish medical device maker Medtronic (MDT) reported better-than-expected earnings for its fiscal first quarter on Monday. But the bigger story was the company's announcement that it would add two new directors to its board after activist investor Elliott Investment Management became one of its largest shareholders. Veteran med-tech executives John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison were appointed, the company said. Medtronic stock dropped over 3% in premarket trading. For the quarter, the company posted adjusted earnings of $1.26 per share, beating analysts' estimates for $1.23, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Revenue came in at $8.6 billion, above Wall Street's forecast of $8.4 billion. Read more here. Home Depot slightly misses Wall Street's mark in Q2 earnings, reiterates guidance Home Depot (HD) released its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Brooke DiPalma looks at the latest from the retail giant and how the US housing slump has impacted its bottom line. Read more here. China's Xpeng expects quarterly revenue to double on strong demand for its EVs Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (XPEV) on Tuesday forecast third-quarter revenue would double. The company is betting on surging deliveries of its cars despite challenging economic conditions. The group's stock rose 0.6% in premarket trading on Tuesday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Xiaomi's revenue rises 31% after second EV fires up consumers Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Palo Alto Networks stock pops on healthy earnings growth, guidance Palo Alto Networks (PANW) stock shot up 6% after hours after the company reported solid earnings and margin growth in its fiscal fourth quarter. The cybersecurity firm reported $2.54 billion in revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter (a 16% increase) and earnings per share of $0.95. Wall Street analysts expected revenue of $2.50 billion and earnings of $0.89 per share, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Shares of Palo Alto Networks are off by 10% over the past month due to a drawdown following the company's $25 billion acquisition of identity security solutions provider CyberArk. But guidance for full-year adjusted EPS of $3.75 to $3.85 also came in above expectations amid the deal. "Cybersecurity is a clear 2nd/3rd derivative play on the AI Revolution with PANW in the driver's seat to gain market/mind share in the cybersecurity landscape," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote in a note ahead of earnings. Ives added, "the continued shift to the cloud [is] putting the company in a strong position to accelerate deal flow as more strategic enterprise AI projects take hold over the coming year." Goldman's Kostin says S&P 500 earnings surge past expectations Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Walmart, Target quarterly results on deck next week The focus turns to retailers next week as heavyweights Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), Lowe's (LOW), and Home Depot (HD) report results. Investors will be listening for changes in consumer behavior as tariffs and inflation remain top concerns for households. Earlier this earnings season, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy noted that the company wasn't seeing diminishing demand or meaningful price increases. Similarly, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach said consumer spending remains healthy. However, recent data showed retail sales rose by less than expected in July. And some companies, particularly fast-casual restaurants, noted their customers were pulling back. With that mixed picture in the backdrop, the earnings calendar next week should provide additional insights from some of the big brands Americans shop. Here's what's on deck: Monday Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Blink Charging (BLNK) Tuesday Home Depot, Xpeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), La-Z-Boy (LZB), Toll Brothers (TOL) Wednesday Target, Lowe's, Baidu (BIDU), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Thursday Walmart, Intuit (INTU), Zoom Communications (ZM), Workday (WDAY), Ross Stores (ROST) Friday BJ's Wholesale (BJ) With Nvidia's Q2 earnings in sight, Trump deal could boost outlook Nvidia's (NVDA) deal with President Trump to give the US government a 15% cut of H20 chip revenue in China adds an interesting wrinkle to the company's earnings. China has responded by urging companies not to use the chips. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley writes that the payment, which could face legal challenges, won't show up in Nvidia's Q2 report but could boost its Q3 outlook if the administration moves quickly. Howley notes: Read more here. McGraw Hill posts profitable quarter in first post-IPO earnings report McGraw Hill (MH) stock gained 2% after reporting its first quarterly results since going public. It traded around $13.61 on Thursday afternoon. In July, shares opened at $17 apiece in the company's IPO. Total revenue increased 2.4% year over year to $535.7 million. The education solutions company also swung to a $0.5 million profit, compared to its $9.4 million loss a year ago. Market share gains, enrollment, and continued demand for digital learning solutions fueled the higher education business, which saw revenue jump 14.1% year over year. Revenue for the K-12 segment, however, declined 1.4%. These two business units make up the bulk of McGraw Hill's business. The smaller international business noted weakness, with an 11.7% decrease in revenue, while sales in the global professional business held steady. For 2026, McGraw Hill sees revenue in a range of $1.98 billion to $2.04 billion. Listen to the earnings call here. Quantum Computing stock slips as losses accelerate Quantum Computing (QUBT) CEO Yuping Huang said that the company continued to make progress in growing commercial traction in the second quarter, but the industry is still focused on reaching technology milestones. Second quarter revenue totaled approximately $61,000, compared to $183,000 in the same period a year ago. The company reported a net loss of $36.5 million, or $0.26 per share. In Q2 2024, Quantum Computing posted a net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.06 per share. Quantum Computing stock fell 2.3% after hours in what's been a whipsaw year for quantum stocks. In June, the stock spiked 25% in one day after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said quantum computing "is reaching an inflection point." But the industry is still in its infancy. The other big quantum player, Rigetti Computing (RGTI), reported a technology breakthrough in its recent results but also big losses. "We are talking of a market that's hundreds of billions of dollars a decade or two from now," Rigetti CEO Subodh Kulkarni told Market Domination Overtime. "But right now, we are clearly in the R&D stage. We clearly need to perfect the technology to get to that big milestone in about four years, which we call quantum advantage." Read more about quantum computing here. Applied Materials stock sinks as policy uncertainty weighs on Q4 guidance Applied Materials (AMAT) recorded an earnings beat for the July quarter but said that the "dynamic" policy environment is creating uncertainty for the business. That led the chip equipment maker to issue a revenue forecast of $6.7 billion for the fourth quarter, below what the Street was expecting. 'We are expecting a decline in revenue in the fourth quarter driven by both digestion of capacity in China and nonlinear demand from leading-edge customers given market concentration and fab timing,' CFO Brice Hill said. 'We are navigating and adapting to the near-term uncertainties by leveraging our robust supply chain, global manufacturing footprint and deep customer relationships.' The company, whose clients include Taiwan Semiconductor and Intel, posted record revenue of $7.30 billion in Q3, up 8% year over year, surpassing estimates for $7.2 billion. Earnings per share of $2.48 also beat estimates by $0.12. Applied Materials stock fell 11% in after-hours trading. Read more here. Earnings and revenue beats lift Dillard's stock Dillard's (DDS) stock rose 7% on Thursday after the department store chain reported revenue and profit beats for the quarter. Net income fell to $72.8 million compared to $74.5 million a year ago, but earnings per share rose $0.07 year over year after the Arkansas-based company bought back stock. Revenue of $1.53 billion beat Wall Street estimates of $1.52 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Earnings per share of $4.66 also topped estimates of $4.00 per share. Total retail sales were flat, with strength in juniors' and children's apparel as well as ladies' accessories and lingerie. The weakest performing category was home and furniture. Other major retailers, including Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Macy's (M), will report second quarter results in the coming weeks, providing a more in-depth look into consumer spending habits. Dillard's stock is up 23% year to date. It has climbed 78% since its April 8 low. Target (TGT) released its second quarter results on Wednesday. The results are not as bad as the first quarter but declining sales has the retail giant in a bit of a bind. Shares in target fell 8% before the bell Yahoo Finance's executive editor Brian Sozzi looks at the latest from Target and whether it will ever find its place in this new economic environment. Read more here. Walmart earnings expected to show US sales growth continued in Q2 as consumers seek value Walmart (WMT) will report quarterly results Thursday morning before the bell, following on the heels of Target (TGT) earnings Wednesday, which sent shares of the retailer 6% lower. But Walmart is expected to highlight another robust quarter, Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma writes, as consumers search for value amid tariff-related uncertainty. Brooke previews what to look for in Walmart's earnings: Read more here. Walmart (WMT) will report quarterly results Thursday morning before the bell, following on the heels of Target (TGT) earnings Wednesday, which sent shares of the retailer 6% lower. But Walmart is expected to highlight another robust quarter, Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma writes, as consumers search for value amid tariff-related uncertainty. Brooke previews what to look for in Walmart's earnings: Read more here. TJX Companies shares rise after earnings beat and raise TJ Maxx parent TJX Companies (TJX) beat sales and profit estimates for the second quarter and raised its annual profit forecast, boosting shares in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. TJ Maxx parent TJX Companies (TJX) beat sales and profit estimates for the second quarter and raised its annual profit forecast, boosting shares in premarket trading. Reuters reports: Read more here. Lowe's stock rises after same-store sales return to growth Lowe's (LOW) stock popped in premarket trading on Wednesday after the home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, earnings beat, and raised its guidance. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Lowe's (LOW) stock popped in premarket trading on Wednesday after the home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, earnings beat, and raised its guidance. Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports: Read more here. Baidu quarterly revenue falls as weak ads offset cloud growth Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Estee Lauder forecasts annual profit below estimates as tariffs hit Estee Lauder (EL) stock fell 8% before the bell on Wednesday after the beauty group forecast annual profit below Wall Street estimates, as it grapples with persistent weakness in the US and China markets and tariff uncertainty. Reuters reports: Read more here. Estee Lauder (EL) stock fell 8% before the bell on Wednesday after the beauty group forecast annual profit below Wall Street estimates, as it grapples with persistent weakness in the US and China markets and tariff uncertainty. Reuters reports: Read more here. Toll Brothers beats on earnings, but new orders decline 4% Toll Brothers (TOL) reported another double beat in its fiscal third quarter, but a slowdown in new orders weighed on the stock, which drifted 1.6% lower after hours. The homebuilder posted diluted earnings per share of $3.73 on home sale revenue of $2.88 billion. Wall Street analysts were expecting earnings per share of $3.64 on revenue of $2.85 billion. After a sluggish spring season in the housing market, there have been signs of a resurgence, with housing starts jumping in July. But mortgage rates that have barely budged, ongoing economic uncertainty, and affordability challenges for buyers continue to weigh on the sector. For the quarter, Toll Brothers noted it had 2,388 units under signed contract, a 4% decline from a year ago. Analysts had expected orders growth. "The average sales price of new contracts was $1.0 million, up 4.5% year-over-year," CEO Douglas Yearley said in the earnings release. "Contract dollars were flat despite a 4% decline in units. While affordability pressures and uncertain economic conditions persist, we are pleased with the resilience of our luxury business and more affluent customer base." Toll Brothers (TOL) reported another double beat in its fiscal third quarter, but a slowdown in new orders weighed on the stock, which drifted 1.6% lower after hours. The homebuilder posted diluted earnings per share of $3.73 on home sale revenue of $2.88 billion. Wall Street analysts were expecting earnings per share of $3.64 on revenue of $2.85 billion. After a sluggish spring season in the housing market, there have been signs of a resurgence, with housing starts jumping in July. But mortgage rates that have barely budged, ongoing economic uncertainty, and affordability challenges for buyers continue to weigh on the sector. For the quarter, Toll Brothers noted it had 2,388 units under signed contract, a 4% decline from a year ago. Analysts had expected orders growth. "The average sales price of new contracts was $1.0 million, up 4.5% year-over-year," CEO Douglas Yearley said in the earnings release. "Contract dollars were flat despite a 4% decline in units. While affordability pressures and uncertain economic conditions persist, we are pleased with the resilience of our luxury business and more affluent customer base." La-Z-Boy stock drops on soft earnings and guidance La-Z-Boy stock (LZB) dropped 16% in after-hours trading after the company missed earnings estimates and navigated "soft industry demand." Overall, comparable sales dropped 1% to $492 million from a year ago. Sales in the furniture retailer's wholesale segment increased 1%, and retail sales rose 5%, but they were offset by weakness in the Joybird brand, which saw sales decline 14%. La-Z-Boy reported diluted earnings per share of $0.44, compared to $0.61 per share a year ago. The Street was looking for earnings of $0.52 per share. La-Z-Boy's guidance also came in lighter than expected. It expects sales in the range of $510 million to $530 million in the fiscal second quarter. Wall Street was looking for $532 million, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. La-Z-Boy stock (LZB) dropped 16% in after-hours trading after the company missed earnings estimates and navigated "soft industry demand." Overall, comparable sales dropped 1% to $492 million from a year ago. Sales in the furniture retailer's wholesale segment increased 1%, and retail sales rose 5%, but they were offset by weakness in the Joybird brand, which saw sales decline 14%. La-Z-Boy reported diluted earnings per share of $0.44, compared to $0.61 per share a year ago. The Street was looking for earnings of $0.52 per share. La-Z-Boy's guidance also came in lighter than expected. It expects sales in the range of $510 million to $530 million in the fiscal second quarter. Wall Street was looking for $532 million, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Medtronic appoints 2 new board members, posts Q1 beat Irish medical device maker Medtronic (MDT) reported better-than-expected earnings for its fiscal first quarter on Monday. But the bigger story was the company's announcement that it would add two new directors to its board after activist investor Elliott Investment Management became one of its largest shareholders. Veteran med-tech executives John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison were appointed, the company said. Medtronic stock dropped over 3% in premarket trading. For the quarter, the company posted adjusted earnings of $1.26 per share, beating analysts' estimates for $1.23, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Revenue came in at $8.6 billion, above Wall Street's forecast of $8.4 billion. Read more here. Irish medical device maker Medtronic (MDT) reported better-than-expected earnings for its fiscal first quarter on Monday. But the bigger story was the company's announcement that it would add two new directors to its board after activist investor Elliott Investment Management became one of its largest shareholders. Veteran med-tech executives John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison were appointed, the company said. Medtronic stock dropped over 3% in premarket trading. For the quarter, the company posted adjusted earnings of $1.26 per share, beating analysts' estimates for $1.23, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Revenue came in at $8.6 billion, above Wall Street's forecast of $8.4 billion. Read more here. Home Depot slightly misses Wall Street's mark in Q2 earnings, reiterates guidance Home Depot (HD) released its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Brooke DiPalma looks at the latest from the retail giant and how the US housing slump has impacted its bottom line. Read more here. Home Depot (HD) released its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Brooke DiPalma looks at the latest from the retail giant and how the US housing slump has impacted its bottom line. Read more here. China's Xpeng expects quarterly revenue to double on strong demand for its EVs Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (XPEV) on Tuesday forecast third-quarter revenue would double. The company is betting on surging deliveries of its cars despite challenging economic conditions. The group's stock rose 0.6% in premarket trading on Tuesday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (XPEV) on Tuesday forecast third-quarter revenue would double. The company is betting on surging deliveries of its cars despite challenging economic conditions. The group's stock rose 0.6% in premarket trading on Tuesday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Xiaomi's revenue rises 31% after second EV fires up consumers Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Palo Alto Networks stock pops on healthy earnings growth, guidance Palo Alto Networks (PANW) stock shot up 6% after hours after the company reported solid earnings and margin growth in its fiscal fourth quarter. The cybersecurity firm reported $2.54 billion in revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter (a 16% increase) and earnings per share of $0.95. Wall Street analysts expected revenue of $2.50 billion and earnings of $0.89 per share, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Shares of Palo Alto Networks are off by 10% over the past month due to a drawdown following the company's $25 billion acquisition of identity security solutions provider CyberArk. But guidance for full-year adjusted EPS of $3.75 to $3.85 also came in above expectations amid the deal. "Cybersecurity is a clear 2nd/3rd derivative play on the AI Revolution with PANW in the driver's seat to gain market/mind share in the cybersecurity landscape," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote in a note ahead of earnings. Ives added, "the continued shift to the cloud [is] putting the company in a strong position to accelerate deal flow as more strategic enterprise AI projects take hold over the coming year." Palo Alto Networks (PANW) stock shot up 6% after hours after the company reported solid earnings and margin growth in its fiscal fourth quarter. The cybersecurity firm reported $2.54 billion in revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter (a 16% increase) and earnings per share of $0.95. Wall Street analysts expected revenue of $2.50 billion and earnings of $0.89 per share, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Shares of Palo Alto Networks are off by 10% over the past month due to a drawdown following the company's $25 billion acquisition of identity security solutions provider CyberArk. But guidance for full-year adjusted EPS of $3.75 to $3.85 also came in above expectations amid the deal. "Cybersecurity is a clear 2nd/3rd derivative play on the AI Revolution with PANW in the driver's seat to gain market/mind share in the cybersecurity landscape," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote in a note ahead of earnings. Ives added, "the continued shift to the cloud [is] putting the company in a strong position to accelerate deal flow as more strategic enterprise AI projects take hold over the coming year." Goldman's Kostin says S&P 500 earnings surge past expectations Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Walmart, Target quarterly results on deck next week The focus turns to retailers next week as heavyweights Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), Lowe's (LOW), and Home Depot (HD) report results. Investors will be listening for changes in consumer behavior as tariffs and inflation remain top concerns for households. Earlier this earnings season, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy noted that the company wasn't seeing diminishing demand or meaningful price increases. Similarly, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach said consumer spending remains healthy. However, recent data showed retail sales rose by less than expected in July. And some companies, particularly fast-casual restaurants, noted their customers were pulling back. With that mixed picture in the backdrop, the earnings calendar next week should provide additional insights from some of the big brands Americans shop. Here's what's on deck: Monday Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Blink Charging (BLNK) Tuesday Home Depot, Xpeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), La-Z-Boy (LZB), Toll Brothers (TOL) Wednesday Target, Lowe's, Baidu (BIDU), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Thursday Walmart, Intuit (INTU), Zoom Communications (ZM), Workday (WDAY), Ross Stores (ROST) Friday BJ's Wholesale (BJ) The focus turns to retailers next week as heavyweights Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), Lowe's (LOW), and Home Depot (HD) report results. Investors will be listening for changes in consumer behavior as tariffs and inflation remain top concerns for households. Earlier this earnings season, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy noted that the company wasn't seeing diminishing demand or meaningful price increases. Similarly, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach said consumer spending remains healthy. However, recent data showed retail sales rose by less than expected in July. And some companies, particularly fast-casual restaurants, noted their customers were pulling back. With that mixed picture in the backdrop, the earnings calendar next week should provide additional insights from some of the big brands Americans shop. Here's what's on deck: Monday Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Blink Charging (BLNK) Tuesday Home Depot, Xpeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), La-Z-Boy (LZB), Toll Brothers (TOL) Wednesday Target, Lowe's, Baidu (BIDU), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Thursday Walmart, Intuit (INTU), Zoom Communications (ZM), Workday (WDAY), Ross Stores (ROST) Friday BJ's Wholesale (BJ) With Nvidia's Q2 earnings in sight, Trump deal could boost outlook Nvidia's (NVDA) deal with President Trump to give the US government a 15% cut of H20 chip revenue in China adds an interesting wrinkle to the company's earnings. China has responded by urging companies not to use the chips. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley writes that the payment, which could face legal challenges, won't show up in Nvidia's Q2 report but could boost its Q3 outlook if the administration moves quickly. Howley notes: Read more here. Nvidia's (NVDA) deal with President Trump to give the US government a 15% cut of H20 chip revenue in China adds an interesting wrinkle to the company's earnings. China has responded by urging companies not to use the chips. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley writes that the payment, which could face legal challenges, won't show up in Nvidia's Q2 report but could boost its Q3 outlook if the administration moves quickly. Howley notes: Read more here. McGraw Hill posts profitable quarter in first post-IPO earnings report McGraw Hill (MH) stock gained 2% after reporting its first quarterly results since going public. It traded around $13.61 on Thursday afternoon. In July, shares opened at $17 apiece in the company's IPO. Total revenue increased 2.4% year over year to $535.7 million. The education solutions company also swung to a $0.5 million profit, compared to its $9.4 million loss a year ago. Market share gains, enrollment, and continued demand for digital learning solutions fueled the higher education business, which saw revenue jump 14.1% year over year. Revenue for the K-12 segment, however, declined 1.4%. These two business units make up the bulk of McGraw Hill's business. The smaller international business noted weakness, with an 11.7% decrease in revenue, while sales in the global professional business held steady. For 2026, McGraw Hill sees revenue in a range of $1.98 billion to $2.04 billion. Listen to the earnings call here. McGraw Hill (MH) stock gained 2% after reporting its first quarterly results since going public. It traded around $13.61 on Thursday afternoon. In July, shares opened at $17 apiece in the company's IPO. Total revenue increased 2.4% year over year to $535.7 million. The education solutions company also swung to a $0.5 million profit, compared to its $9.4 million loss a year ago. Market share gains, enrollment, and continued demand for digital learning solutions fueled the higher education business, which saw revenue jump 14.1% year over year. Revenue for the K-12 segment, however, declined 1.4%. These two business units make up the bulk of McGraw Hill's business. The smaller international business noted weakness, with an 11.7% decrease in revenue, while sales in the global professional business held steady. For 2026, McGraw Hill sees revenue in a range of $1.98 billion to $2.04 billion. Listen to the earnings call here. Quantum Computing stock slips as losses accelerate Quantum Computing (QUBT) CEO Yuping Huang said that the company continued to make progress in growing commercial traction in the second quarter, but the industry is still focused on reaching technology milestones. Second quarter revenue totaled approximately $61,000, compared to $183,000 in the same period a year ago. The company reported a net loss of $36.5 million, or $0.26 per share. In Q2 2024, Quantum Computing posted a net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.06 per share. Quantum Computing stock fell 2.3% after hours in what's been a whipsaw year for quantum stocks. In June, the stock spiked 25% in one day after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said quantum computing "is reaching an inflection point." But the industry is still in its infancy. The other big quantum player, Rigetti Computing (RGTI), reported a technology breakthrough in its recent results but also big losses. "We are talking of a market that's hundreds of billions of dollars a decade or two from now," Rigetti CEO Subodh Kulkarni told Market Domination Overtime. "But right now, we are clearly in the R&D stage. We clearly need to perfect the technology to get to that big milestone in about four years, which we call quantum advantage." Read more about quantum computing here. Quantum Computing (QUBT) CEO Yuping Huang said that the company continued to make progress in growing commercial traction in the second quarter, but the industry is still focused on reaching technology milestones. Second quarter revenue totaled approximately $61,000, compared to $183,000 in the same period a year ago. The company reported a net loss of $36.5 million, or $0.26 per share. In Q2 2024, Quantum Computing posted a net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.06 per share. Quantum Computing stock fell 2.3% after hours in what's been a whipsaw year for quantum stocks. In June, the stock spiked 25% in one day after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said quantum computing "is reaching an inflection point." But the industry is still in its infancy. The other big quantum player, Rigetti Computing (RGTI), reported a technology breakthrough in its recent results but also big losses. "We are talking of a market that's hundreds of billions of dollars a decade or two from now," Rigetti CEO Subodh Kulkarni told Market Domination Overtime. "But right now, we are clearly in the R&D stage. We clearly need to perfect the technology to get to that big milestone in about four years, which we call quantum advantage." Read more about quantum computing here. Applied Materials stock sinks as policy uncertainty weighs on Q4 guidance Applied Materials (AMAT) recorded an earnings beat for the July quarter but said that the "dynamic" policy environment is creating uncertainty for the business. That led the chip equipment maker to issue a revenue forecast of $6.7 billion for the fourth quarter, below what the Street was expecting. 'We are expecting a decline in revenue in the fourth quarter driven by both digestion of capacity in China and nonlinear demand from leading-edge customers given market concentration and fab timing,' CFO Brice Hill said. 'We are navigating and adapting to the near-term uncertainties by leveraging our robust supply chain, global manufacturing footprint and deep customer relationships.' The company, whose clients include Taiwan Semiconductor and Intel, posted record revenue of $7.30 billion in Q3, up 8% year over year, surpassing estimates for $7.2 billion. Earnings per share of $2.48 also beat estimates by $0.12. Applied Materials stock fell 11% in after-hours trading. Read more here. Applied Materials (AMAT) recorded an earnings beat for the July quarter but said that the "dynamic" policy environment is creating uncertainty for the business. That led the chip equipment maker to issue a revenue forecast of $6.7 billion for the fourth quarter, below what the Street was expecting. 'We are expecting a decline in revenue in the fourth quarter driven by both digestion of capacity in China and nonlinear demand from leading-edge customers given market concentration and fab timing,' CFO Brice Hill said. 'We are navigating and adapting to the near-term uncertainties by leveraging our robust supply chain, global manufacturing footprint and deep customer relationships.' The company, whose clients include Taiwan Semiconductor and Intel, posted record revenue of $7.30 billion in Q3, up 8% year over year, surpassing estimates for $7.2 billion. Earnings per share of $2.48 also beat estimates by $0.12. Applied Materials stock fell 11% in after-hours trading. Read more here. Earnings and revenue beats lift Dillard's stock Dillard's (DDS) stock rose 7% on Thursday after the department store chain reported revenue and profit beats for the quarter. Net income fell to $72.8 million compared to $74.5 million a year ago, but earnings per share rose $0.07 year over year after the Arkansas-based company bought back stock. Revenue of $1.53 billion beat Wall Street estimates of $1.52 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Earnings per share of $4.66 also topped estimates of $4.00 per share. Total retail sales were flat, with strength in juniors' and children's apparel as well as ladies' accessories and lingerie. The weakest performing category was home and furniture. Other major retailers, including Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Macy's (M), will report second quarter results in the coming weeks, providing a more in-depth look into consumer spending habits. Dillard's stock is up 23% year to date. It has climbed 78% since its April 8 low. Dillard's (DDS) stock rose 7% on Thursday after the department store chain reported revenue and profit beats for the quarter. Net income fell to $72.8 million compared to $74.5 million a year ago, but earnings per share rose $0.07 year over year after the Arkansas-based company bought back stock. Revenue of $1.53 billion beat Wall Street estimates of $1.52 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Earnings per share of $4.66 also topped estimates of $4.00 per share. Total retail sales were flat, with strength in juniors' and children's apparel as well as ladies' accessories and lingerie. The weakest performing category was home and furniture. Other major retailers, including Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Macy's (M), will report second quarter results in the coming weeks, providing a more in-depth look into consumer spending habits. Dillard's stock is up 23% year to date. It has climbed 78% since its April 8 low.
