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Lululemon Beats Q4 Estimates But Shocks Investors With Bleak 2026 Guidance; Americas Revenue Slides, CEO Search Drags On

Lululemon Athletica beat fourth-quarter earnings estimates Tuesday evening, reporting Q4 revenue of $3.64 billion and EPS of $5.01, but the company's 2026 guidance delivered a stark warning to investors: full-year EPS is projected to fall to $12.10–$12.30 from $13.26 in fiscal 2025, marking a second consecutive year of declining profitability. Americas revenue fell 4% in Q4 and is expected to decline a further 1%–3% in 2026, while the company continues to operate without a permanent CEO.

Amazon Launches 1-Hour and 3-Hour Delivery Across U.S. Cities in Direct Challenge to Walmart's Same-Day Dominance

Amazon announced Tuesday that it is rolling out 1-hour and 3-hour delivery services across hundreds and thousands of U.S. cities respectively — marking its most aggressive assault yet on Walmart's same-day shipping dominance. With more than 90,000 products eligible for sub-3-hour fulfillment, Prime members paying $9.99 for 1-hour and $4.99 for 3-hour delivery, and an 'Amazon Now' 30-minute test underway in select markets, the e-commerce giant is shifting the battleground of retail logistics to the realm of near-instant gratification.

Q4 GDP Revised Sharply Down to 0.7% as Stagflation Risk Mounts Ahead of Fed Meeting

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis revised fourth-quarter 2025 GDP growth to just 0.7% on Friday, down sharply from the prior estimate of 1.4% and well below Wall Street's 1.5% consensus forecast. Paired with January core PCE inflation running at 3.1%, the data sharply raises stagflation concerns just days before the Federal Reserve's next policy meeting, where rate cuts now appear increasingly unlikely.

U.S. Inflation Data Meets Expectations but Leaves Federal Reserve Path Uncertain

The latest U.S. inflation report showed consumer prices rising broadly in line with expectations, offering markets a temporary sense of stability. However, economists warn that energy price volatility and geopolitical risks could complicate the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook, leaving investors uncertain about the timing and magnitude of future interest rate decisions.

February CPI Meets Forecasts at 2.4%, But Iran War Threatens to Reignite Inflation in Coming Months

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that February's Consumer Price Index rose 2.4% year-over-year, in line with economist expectations, with core CPI advancing 2.5%. While the on-target print briefly steadied markets, analysts warn the data predates the Iran conflict-driven oil price spike, leaving the Federal Reserve's rate path highly uncertain as energy-driven inflation risks build for the months ahead.

Trump's 15% Global Tariff Set to Take Full Effect This Week, Bessent Signals Rollback Within Five Months

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Thursday that President Trump's revised 15% global tariff, enacted under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 following the Supreme Court's invalidation of IEEPA-based duties, will take full effect this week, though Bessent expressed confidence the rates would revert to prior levels within five months as trade authorities complete sector-specific assessments.

Costco, Kroger, and Marvell Technology Headline Earnings Thursday as Consumer and Chip Spending Face Scrutiny

Investors will receive critical data points on consumer spending resilience and semiconductor demand Thursday as retail giants Costco and Kroger, along with AI chip supplier Marvell Technology, publish quarterly results against a backdrop of rising oil prices, a freshly enacted 15% global tariff, and persistent questions about whether household purchasing power is beginning to crack.

ADP Report: Private Payrolls Rise 63,000 in February, Beating Estimates but Revealing Narrow Job Growth

The ADP National Employment Report released Wednesday showed U.S. private employers added 63,000 jobs in February, topping consensus estimates of 50,000 and improving from a downwardly revised 11,000 in January. However, gains were concentrated almost entirely in construction and education and health services, with professional and business services shedding 30,000 positions, raising questions about underlying labor market breadth ahead of Friday's official nonfarm payrolls report.

Target Upgraded to Outperform by Telsey as Retailer Shows Early Signs of Sales Recovery

Shares of Target Corporation rose for a second consecutive session Wednesday after Telsey Advisory Group upgraded the retailer to Outperform from Market Perform, citing confidence in the company's strategy to recapture its merchandising identity and leverage AI across store operations. The upgrade follows a Tuesday earnings report in which CEO Michael Fiddelke said Target is "out of the gates strong" in 2026 after reporting a February sales increase that marked the company's first monthly gain in several quarters.