Latest news with #ArturWidak
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Latest Dunnes Stores luxury shoe dupe will save you €850
Dunnes Stores is at it again with their latest luxury shoe dupes. The stunning summer find comes in three different colours and is a whopping €850 cheaper than their high end counterpart. The Irish retailer has launched its own version of the YSL slingback babylone flats that have fans absolutely running to their nearest store. Dunnes Stores is at it again with their latest luxury shoe dupes. Pic: YSL The new ballerina slingback flat shoes at Dunnes Stores retail for €15 and are perfect for any and all of your summer events. While the Saint Laurent slides retail for €890 and only come in one colour, Dunnes allow you to choose from white, black or a fun leopard pattern. Sizes range from 36 – 42 with fans of the summer staple having to be quick as some sizes are already sold out online. The stunning summer find comes in three different colours and is a whopping €850 cheaper than their high end counterpart. Pic: Dunnes Stores All colours are available on their website and in stores across the country. This isn't the first time Dunnes has ventured into luxury dupes, having made waves online for their footwear options last summer. Following the immense success of Dunnes Stores' almost-identical Birkenstock dupe at the start of the year, the Irish retailer has revealed that they are back! The Irish retailer has launched its own version of the YSL slingback babylone flats that have fans absolutely running to their nearest store. Pic: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock With the recent weather that we've all been enjoying (and hoping stays for a while), the Buckle Footbed Sandal is the ideal addition to your wardrobe. The sleek straps and polished hardware bring just the right touch of sophistication, while the contoured leather insole cushions every step, perfect for days that take you from brunch to sunset strolls. Whether pairing them with your favourite faded denim or a breezy summer dress, these sandals are your go-to for effortless elegance. Posting the sandals to their website, fashion bosses at Dunnes Stores said: 'These smart buckled sandals feature a contoured leather insole, making them super comfortable for all day wear. 'Wear yours with everything from denim to dresses.' Like the Irish retailer's last edition of the trendy sandals, eagle-eyed shoppers quickly noticed the striking similarity to the Birkenstock Arizona sandal–but there was only one noticeable difference! Coming in at just €15, the Dunnes dupe is up to an eye-watering €98 cheaper than its luxury rivals, which could set you back around €113, depending on where you buy them.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Fear Walmart At $96?
COCHRANE, CANADA MAY 20: The Walmart logo displayed at the Walmart storefront in Cochrane, Alberta, ... More Canada, on May 20, 2025. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Walmart (NYSE: WMT) proved to be a powerhouse last year, surging 75% and securing a prominent position in the S&P 500, coming in second only to Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) in the Dow. And the momentum isn't slowing down: the stock has added another 7% in 2025, even as the overall market falters. What's igniting this growth? Excellent execution in in-store activities, thriving e-commerce, and swift Walmart+ delivery. At first glance, it looks like a retail utopia. However, there's a caveat: Walmart is trading at 41 times earnings and 21 times free cash flow. Reverse those figures, and you arrive at a meager 4.7% cash flow yield. In contrast, Amazon—indeed, the leader in cloud services, ads, and all things e-commerce—trades at a lower multiple and is increasing revenue almost twice as rapidly. So while Walmart boasts scale, strategy, and Wall Street's favor, at $96 per share, that translates to a high valuation pursuing a growth narrative that simply isn't keeping up. And what happens when actual growth fails to match the expectations? That's when reality sets in. See Buy or Sell Walmart stock? Walmart is frequently seen as a recession-resistant stock, but past events tell a more complex story. During the 2008 global financial crisis, its stock price fell nearly 27%. In the early days of the Covid pandemic in 2020, shares decreased by 17%. And in 2022, in the face of spiraling inflation and consumer pressures, Walmart faced another setback with a 26% drop. Not exactly bulletproof—yet today, the stock is valued at a premium. Management is pinning its hopes on high-growth areas such as e-commerce, advertising (Walmart Connect), memberships, and marketplace growth. The figures are noteworthy: global e-commerce sales increased by 22% (in Q1), ad revenues grew by 31%, and ultra-fast delivery services now reach 95% of the U.S. population. The company also reported a profit in e-commerce in Q1'26—a vital achievement. Yet the bigger picture is less exciting. Gross margins improved by only 12 basis points, and although customer transactions increased by 1.6% in Q1, surpassing competitors like Target (NYSE: TGT), that growth represents the fourth consecutive quarter of slowing momentum. Walmart's high valuation is based on the belief that its emerging divisions will soon yield substantial profit growth. Despite the flashy growth in e-commerce, the reality is that Walmart's momentum is far from robust. In FY 2026, the company's management projects 4% revenue growth, 4.5% operating income growth, and under 2% EPS growth. That's barely a heartbeat for a company valued like a hyper-growth tech entity. See our analysis on Walmart's Valuation for more information on what is influencing our price estimate for the stock. Adding to the challenge is tariff risk. New U.S. tariffs on imports from nations such as Costa Rica, Peru, and Colombia could lead to higher prices as soon as June. Walmart hasn't canceled any orders but is reducing purchase quantities on potentially price-sensitive products. With one-third of its U.S. merchandise coming from imports, and significant exposure to Chinese goods, the risk posed by these tariffs remains a serious concern. Despite valuation pressures and macroeconomic risks, Walmart's size provides substantial advantages. Its leadership in groceries guarantees steady customer traffic, which also boosts sales of discretionary items. While competitors are struggling with foot traffic, Walmart achieved a 4.5% increase in U.S. same-store sales in Q1 and maintained its guidance for the full year. The company continues to expand in high-margin, high-growth sectors—e-commerce, digital advertising, and international markets—positioning itself for long-term resilience. Expensive? Certainly. Vulnerable? Far from it. Investing in a single stock involves inherent risks. Conversely, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, which comprises 30 stocks, has a history of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the last four-year period. Why is that? As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks offer better returns with lower risk compared to the benchmark index, providing a steadier investment experience, as seen in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Extra.ie
26-05-2025
- Extra.ie
Four women killed in serperate collisions over the weekend
Four women have been killed in separate road collisions across the country over the weekend. A woman in her 70s died while cycling in Co. Clare in a crash involving a tractor at Toonagh, Tulla, 10km outside Ennis on Saturday, shortly before 1 pm. She was pronounced dead by the emergency services at the scene and was removed to University Hospital Limerick for a post-mortem. Four women have been killed in separate road collisions across the country over the weekend. Pic: Sam Boal/ The road was closed for technical examination by Garda forensic collision investigators. There were no other injuries reported. Another fatal collision occurred later on Saturday at Curraghgraigue, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, at 3 pm, in which a female pedestrian in her 20s was killed. After gardaí and emergency services responded to the collision involving a car on the R702, the woman was removed from the scene to Wexford General Hospital, where she later passed away. Pic: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock (14458825g) The driver of the car, a man in his 20s, received a medical assessment at the scene. Gardaí have stated that investigations are ongoing and have appealed for witnesses. A woman in her 60s, also a pedestrian, was killed on Saturday evening outside Ashbourne, Co. Meath, after being struck by a car on the Dublin Road between Nine Milestone and Coolquay at around 7.10 pm. The woman, named locally as Theresa Morgan, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was removed to Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, for a post-mortem. The number of road deaths so far in 2025 is now at 65, a decrease of eight from last year's figure for the same period, of 73. Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos The male driver, as well as the passenger of the car, both in their 20s, were taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown with non-life-threatening injuries. Bernadette 'Bernie' Cranley, 82, from Lifford, Co. Donegal, died when a Toyota Vitz she was driving collided with another car on the notorious A5 road between Omagh and Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone, on Saturday afternoon. The other driver, a woman in her 70s, was taken to hospital and is understood to have serious injuries. The number of road deaths so far in 2025 is now at 65, a decrease of eight from last year's figure for the same period, of 73. Ms Cranley's fatal crash was not recorded on the Garda database as it took place north of the border. A fatal collision has occurred on average once every two days since the year began.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Will Ross Stores' Q1 Earnings Drive Stock Growth?
Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST) is set to announce its fiscal first-quarter earnings on Thursday, May 22, 2025, with analysts forecasting earnings of $1.43 per share and $4.96 billion in revenue. This would indicate a 3% decrease in earnings year-over-year and a 2% increase in sales compared to last year's figures of $1.47 per share and $4.86 billion in revenue. Historically, ROST stock has risen 50% of the time after earnings announcements, with a median one-day gain of 3.6% and a maximum observed increase of 10%. Ross Stores, a pioneer in off-price retail, leverages surplus inventory to provide significant brand discounts. Recently, it expanded its number of stores, aiming at value-focused shoppers while enhancing operations. Its 'packaway' approach facilitates prompt inventory deployment, enhancing its competitive pricing. For this fiscal year, Ross anticipates a flat to 3% decrease in comparable store sales for the first quarter, attributing this to cautious macroeconomic conditions. Management foresees full-year EPS to be between $5.95 and $6.55, which is a slight decrease from $6.32 recorded the previous year, reflecting persistent competitive pressures. With a market capitalization of $51 billion, Ross reported $21 billion in revenue over the last 12 months, yielding $2.6 billion in operating profit and $2.1 billion in net income. For event-driven traders, historical trends may provide a competitive advantage, whether by positioning before earnings or responding to movements after the release. Nonetheless, if you desire less volatility along with growth relative to individual stocks, the Trefis High Quality portfolio offers an alternative, having outperformed the S&P 500 and delivered returns surpassing 91% since its launch. See earnings reaction history of all stocks. Some insights regarding one-day (1D) post-earnings returns: Additional statistics for recorded 5-Day (5D) and 21-Day (21D) returns post earnings are compiled along with the data in the table below. ROST Post Earnings Forward Returns A comparatively less risky strategy (although not effective if the correlation is low) involves analyzing the correlation between short-term and medium-term returns following earnings, identifying a pair with the strongest correlation, and executing the suitable trade. For instance, if 1D and 5D exhibit the strongest correlation, a trader may take a 'long' position for the subsequent 5 days if the 1D post-earnings return is positive. Below is some correlation data derived from 5-year and 3-year (more recent) history. Please note that the correlation 1D_5D represents the relationship between 1D post-earnings returns and subsequent 5D returns. ROST Correlation Between 1D, 5D and 21D Historical Returns Discover more about Trefis RV strategy that has outperformed its all-cap stocks benchmark (a combination of all three, S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000), leading to strong returns for investors.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Update: 2025 GMC Hummer EV Review: A Bona Fide Tesla Cybertruck Nemesis
EDMONTON, CANADA APRIL 13: A 2025 GMC Hummer EV 2X SUV on display at the Edmonton Motor Show on ... More April 13, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) There are two radical, in-your-face EVs in the U.S. One celebrated (or infamous, depending on your point of view), the other the original monster EV. What follows is a brief review of the latter – the 2025 GMC Hummer EV. The GMC Hummer EV pickup began initial customer deliveries in late 2021. Cybertruck deliveries started in late November 2023. So, the Hummer EV was out there almost two years before Tesla's hotly-anticipated (at the time) electric pickup. The following is an update to a first-take review – done in November of 2024 – of the 2025 Hummer EV 3X (tri-motor) SUV with the available Extreme Off-Road package. I've put the full specs at the bottom. (Note that I have also test driven an AWD Cybertruck – most recently a few weeks ago.) Pros: Very tough, fearless off-road EV. Very little can stop this 9,000-pound+ beast. And the 35-inch tires are icing on the cake. It's a Rivian R1S on steroids. Plenty of room to sleep in the back. Surprisingly quick/fast on the highway. The range is rated at 289 miles but I charged it to over 90 percent once and it was close to 300 miles. Cons: It's huge / can be unwieldy in parking lots. It's expensive to charge. Price tag is high, right up there with the Tesla Cyberbeast. In the past 8 months, I've taken a number of EVs to the Mojave Desert. A Rivian R1S, a Rivian R1T (twice), a Subaru Solterra (twice), a Chevy Silverado EV, a Ford F-150 Lightning, and a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT AWD. While the Silverado EV conquered some of the most treacherous, muddy, and dangerous off-roading I've ever done (and I will forever have unstinting admiration for the Silverado), it's not a Hummer. The Hummer is outrageous. With its extreme ground clearance, extreme power, and sheer size. Let me put it another way: with the Hummer, you feel invincible in the Mojave outback. While the Hummer easily cut through Mojave's soft sand, it didn't flinch when faced with the many steep grades, treacherous angles, and rocky terrain that the Mojave foothills can throw up in your path. In one spot, about 25 miles north of the town of Mojave, Calif. near Red Rock Canyon State Park, I ran into extremely rocky terrain combined with steep grades that would disembowel lesser off-road vehicles. The Hummer crawled the rocks like it was born for just that purpose. Amazingly, despite its size and weight, the Hummer EV doubles as a fast and very quick highway car. There's a steep-grade onramp on Interstate 5 north of Castaic, Calif. that is my litmus test for the acceleration needed to outrace the swarms of big rigs bearing down on you when you jump onto 5. The Hummer is like a rocket. And I couldn't help but think that some of those truckers were scratching their heads to see such a big vehicle move so fast. Super Cruise: the Hummer is available with GM's Super Cruise, a hands-free autonomous driving technology (aka Advanced Driver Assist System or ADAS), which I've used extensively on other GM vehicles. Super Cruise drives the car – steering, acceleration, braking, and lane changes – in most highway situations. I used it as much as possible with the Hummer. It was a little rough in spots (once, it didn't recognize an object along the highway). But GM told me they fixed the latter bug. Though I use ADAS constantly in the EVs I test (including Tesla FSD, Ford BlueCruise, and Rivian Highway Assist) no ADAS is perfect. Like Tesla's FSD, GM is constantly working to improve Super Cruise's ability to deal with unexpected situations and unrecognized objects. Bottom line: an ADAS' practicality and ability to make you a safer driver far outweigh the rare glitches. Charging the Hummer EV at a Tesla Supercharger in the town of Mojave, Calif. Charging: charging can get pricey with the Hummer if you take a lot of long trips and use public charging. My humble Chevy Bolt costs, at most, $20 to fully charge from 10 percent to close to a full charge. The Hummer, just to do a partial charge, let's say from 30 percent to 90 percent, can easily top $50. I'm in Southern California so charging these days is expensive. (Not like the good old days when I could fully charge my Bolt at public chargers for about $12.) That said, I got very fast charges at Electrify America 350kW chargers and Tesla Superchargers, peaking at over 300kW. That translates to a very fast charge. Tesla NACS adapter: The Hummer came with a NACS adapter that let me charge at Tesla Superchargers, which I did frequently. This is a must-have if you travel a lot. Tesla Supercharger locations are typically far superior to other public charging options like Electrify America. The critical difference is redundancy. Every Supercharger location I visited had at least a dozen chargers (often more). That means if a few are down, you still have plenty available. That's not the case at Electrify America, which usually tops out at six chargers (occasionally eight). Though Electrify America has upgraded many of the chargers in Los Angeles in the past year or so, I still have to deal with queues and unavailable chargers at some Electrify America locations. The 2025 GMC Hummer SUV 3X with Extreme Off-road Package is simultaneously flamboyant, unbreakably tough, and fast. It's a strong alternative if you're looking for a radically muscular off-road EV that doesn't carry any anti-Elon baggage – however irrational that sentiment may be. 2025 GMC Hummer EV 3X SUV (tri-motor) with the available Extreme Off-Road includes 18-inch black aluminum wheels, 35-inch MT tires (Goodyear), front e-lockers with virtual rear lockers, additional underbody protection + skid plates, rocker protectors with assist steps, ball spline half shafts and easy-to-clean rubber flooring. This vehicle also comes with Gen 2 Super Cruise, GM's autonomous vehicle (driver assist) technology. Price as shown above as of October 2024: $120,505. Video footnote: I did not take video of the most challenging terrain. I was too consumed with driving and in most cases I was alone — hard to drive and take decent video at the same time.
