Latest news with #consumer stocks
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Is Leslie's (LESL) Stock Rocketing Higher Today
What Happened? Shares of pool products retailer Leslie's (NASDAQ:LESL) jumped 11.9% in the morning session after the stock continued a strong rally amid signs of a potential short squeeze. The stock had already been on a multi-day winning streak, and reports indicated that as of July 25, 2025, it had a high short sale ratio of 32.11%. A short squeeze is a market event that can occur when a heavily shorted stock's price rises, forcing short sellers to buy shares to cover their positions. This buying pressure, in turn, pushed the price even higher. The move on Monday extended a significant run for the stock, which had risen more than 51% since a pivot point on July 17, 2025. This rally also coincided with reports of a broader trend where other highly shorted consumer stocks experienced strong gains. Is now the time to buy Leslie's? Access our full analysis report here, it's free. What Is The Market Telling Us Leslie's shares are extremely volatile and have had 90 moves greater than 5% over the last year. But moves this big are rare even for Leslie's and indicate this news significantly impacted the market's perception of the business. The previous big move we wrote about was 12 days ago when the stock gained 3.5% on the news that the company announced the appointment of a seasoned retail executive, Amy College, as its new Chief Merchandising and Supply Chain Officer. The announcement, made after the market closed on the previous day, was seen as a positive step for the company. The hiring of a new leader to oversee both merchandising and the supply chain can signal to investors a strategic focus on improving product assortment, inventory management, and operational efficiency. These areas are critical for a specialty retailer like Leslie's to navigate a challenging consumer environment and drive profitability. The move suggests the company is actively working to strengthen its leadership team and core business functions. Leslie's is down 71.5% since the beginning of the year, and at $0.65 per share, it is trading 81.5% below its 52-week high of $3.51 from November 2024. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Leslie's shares at the IPO in October 2020 would now be looking at an investment worth $29.84. Today's young investors likely haven't read the timeless lessons in Gorilla Game: Picking Winners In High Technology because it was written more than 20 years ago when Microsoft and Apple were first establishing their supremacy. But if we apply the same principles, then enterprise software stocks leveraging their own generative AI capabilities may well be the Gorillas of the future. So, in that spirit, we are excited to present our Special Free Report on a profitable, fast-growing enterprise software stock that is already riding the automation wave and looking to catch the generative AI next. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Red Robin (RRGB) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
What Happened? Shares of burger restaurant chain Red Robin (NASDAQ:RRGB) jumped 7.8% in the afternoon session after it was among a group of consumer stocks with high short interest that rallied. The move was part of a broader trend where investors targeted companies with a significant number of bearish bets against them. This dynamic can sometimes lead to a "short squeeze," an event where a rising stock price forces short-sellers to buy back shares to cover their positions, which in turn pushes the stock even higher. Red Robin, which has a notable level of short interest, appeared to be caught in this momentum. Reports indicated there was no major company-specific news to account for the rally, suggesting the surge was driven more by retail investor enthusiasm and market positioning than by a change in the company's fundamental outlook. Is now the time to buy Red Robin? Access our full analysis report here, it's free. What Is The Market Telling Us Red Robin's shares are extremely volatile and have had 69 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today's move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business. The previous big move we wrote about was 8 days ago when the stock gained 9.5% on the news that the casual dining chain announced its "First Choice" strategic plan and an improved profitability forecast for the second quarter. The company unveiled its new "First Choice" plan, a five-point strategy focused on strengthening operations, driving customer traffic, managing costs to reduce debt, improving restaurant facilities, and fostering a high-performance culture. While Red Robin now expects a comparable restaurant sales decrease of about 4% for the second quarter, slightly worse than its previous forecast, it anticipates that its Adjusted EBITDA will come in higher than the prior guidance of $13 million to $16 million. EBITDA, which stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, is a key measure of a company's operating performance. Red Robin is up 32.4% since the beginning of the year, and at $7.51 per share, has set a new 52-week high. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Red Robin's shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $928.84. Unless you've been living under a rock, it should be obvious by now that generative AI is going to have a huge impact on how large corporations do business. While Nvidia and AMD are trading close to all-time highs, we prefer a lesser-known (but still profitable) semiconductor stock benefiting from the rise of AI. Click here to access our free report on our favorite semiconductor growth story.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UBS Trims Colgate (CL) Price Target, Maintains Buy Rating
Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) is one of the most profitable consumer stocks to buy now. UBS lowered its price target on Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) to $106 from $109 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing valuation discipline following the stock's steady run in recent months. At the current price of $86.80, the revised target still implies an upside potential of roughly 22%. An array of toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouthwashes on a bright background, highlighting the company's oral care products. The firm continues to see strength in Colgate's underlying fundamentals, particularly its strong pricing execution across global markets and steady demand for essential personal care and household products. UBS analysts noted that while foreign exchange and cost headwinds remain part of the equation, margin recovery efforts and disciplined brand investments are likely to support earnings growth through the back half of the year. Colgate has seen consistent performance across its oral care and pet nutrition segments, with emerging markets showing signs of improving volumes. The updated target reflects a more balanced outlook as shares approach levels UBS considers closer to fair value, rather than a change in conviction about the company's prospects. Investors will be watching Colgate's next earnings update for clarity on input cost trends and competitive dynamics, particularly as pricing begins to normalize and volume growth comes back into focus. While we acknowledge the potential of CL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: Top 10 Healthcare AI Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 10 Best Industrial Automation Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Goldman Sachs Raises Philip Morris (PM) Price Target, Maintains Buy Rating
Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) is one of the most profitable consumer stocks to buy now. Goldman Sachs raised its price target on Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) to $200 from $190 on July 17, maintaining a Buy rating and signaling confidence in the tobacco giant's earnings trajectory. The new target implies an upside of nearly 12% from the current share price of $178.70. Copyright: jetcityimage / 123RF Stock Photo The upward revision comes ahead of the company's next earnings release, with Goldman pointing to improved operational visibility and strong execution in key international markets. Analysts highlighted the company's ability to navigate shifting regulatory environments while preserving margins through disciplined cost controls and a balanced pricing strategy. Philip Morris has also continued to expand its presence in non-combustible products, though Goldman's update did not place sole emphasis on this segment. Instead, the note referenced broad-based strength in the company's global footprint, where consistent performance in both developed and emerging markets has helped support top-line growth. Investors will be watching closely for commentary on shipment volumes, inventory trends, and guidance updates. With shares hovering near their recent highs, Goldman's call suggests confidence that Philip Morris still has room to move higher as it balances legacy operations with ongoing product innovation. While we acknowledge the potential of PM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: Top 10 Healthcare AI Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 10 Best Industrial Automation Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade Disclosure: None.
Free Malaysia Today
13-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Citigroup sets mid-2026 target of 1,150 for MSCI's global equity index
Citigroup reiterated its 'overweight' view on technology and 'underweight' rating on consumer stocks. (EPA Images pic) NEW YORK : Citigroup introduced its mid-2026 target for the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) Local today as they expect global equity markets to be rangebound until year-end, with 'meaningful' gains coming in the first half of next year. The Wall Street brokerage set a target of 1,150 for the benchmark global equity index, implying an upside of about 5% to its last close of 1,100.213. 'Our targets imply the most upside in Japan and Europe over the medium term,' Citi added. The brokerage maintained its preference for European stocks among global equities, but downgraded Japan to 'neutral' on concerns over near-term tariff risks and the strength of the Japanese yen. Global equities have climbed back to all-time highs after a volatile first half of 2025, even as the economic outlook looks uncertain broadly due to Trump's tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Citi set its 2026 year-end earnings-per-share (EPS) growth for the index at above 11%, which remains below consensus estimates of more than 13%. 'Though still positive on average, bottom-up EPS forecasts around the world have been under pressure, as markets grapple with trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty,' the brokerage said, as it estimated an EPS growth of just above 5% for this year. Citi maintained its 'neutral' stance on US equities and 'underweight' on emerging markets and Australia. On the global sector front, it reiterated its 'overweight' view on technology and 'underweight' rating on consumer stocks.
