To The Moon

U.S. retail sales fell 0.6% in July, raising fresh concerns about consumer spending. Earnings from Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s and TJX will show whether Americans are simply becoming more selective—or starting to cut spending more broadly. Retail Earnings Calendar Aug. 18: Home Depot Aug. 19: Target, Lowe’s and TJX Aug. 20: Walmart Together, these companies cover several layers of the U.S. consumer economy: StockWhat It Tests WMT Essentials, value-seeking and trade-down demand TGT Discretionary spending on apparel, beauty and home goods HD Housing activity and large renovation projects LOW DIY demand and professional contractors TJX Consumer demand for discounted merchandise 1. Retail Sales Sent an Early Warning U.S. retail sales declined 0.6% month over month in July, versus expec

$TJX Companies(TJX)$ has benefited from consumers seeking recognised brands at lower prices. Its August 19 report will test whether that traffic and merchandise advantage can sustain unusually strong margins after favourable fuel and inventory hedges fade. TJX reported its fiscal first quarter, ended May 2, on May 20. Revenue increased 9% to $14.3 billion, comparable sales grew 6% and earnings rose 29% to $1.19 per share. Pretax margin expanded 170 basis points to 12.0%, while gross margin increased 180 basis points to 31.3%. TJX’s official first-quarter release provides the results. The bullish thesis is rooted in TJX’s purchasing model. Unlike conventional retailers that commit to seasonal inventory far in advance, TJX can buy excess branded merc

$Keysight(KEYS)$ supplies the instruments and software used to test electronic systems rather than the chips or networks themselves. That makes it a less obvious beneficiary of AI infrastructure, but also a useful measure of whether investment is spreading into networking, high-speed communications and semiconductor development. Keysight reported its fiscal second quarter, ended April 30, on May 19. Revenue increased 31% to approximately $1.72 billion and adjusted earnings rose 69% to $2.87 per share. Electronic Industrial Solutions Group revenue increased 24% to $486 million, with double-digit growth across semiconductor, automotive, energy and general electronics. Keysight’s official second-quarter release provides the divisional results. The bu

The S&P 500 pulled back slightly from its record high on Friday. But don't mistake a quiet session for a weak market. The index just posted its third consecutive weekly gain. And perhaps the most interesting number right now isn't the S&P 500. It's the VIX. At 14.25, volatility has fallen to its lowest level since December. Wall Street is almost… too comfortable. ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER GAIN $S&P 500(.SPX)$ : -0.17%. $NASDAQ(.IXIC)$ : -0.28% and Dow Jones: -0.20% But zoom out. The S&P 500 has now delivered three straight weeks of gains and remains close to record territory. More importantly, investors barely reacted to several potentially negative headlines. Retail sales unexpectedly decli