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☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: SoFi Technologies, AutoZone, Nvidia, Meta and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Bank of America downgrades SoFi Technologies to neutral from buy The downgrade follows SoFi' s recent rally. Our C$51 Price Target is 39% above the current stock price and we see close to 3:1 upside/downside skew." UBS upgrades AutoZone to buy from neutral Analyst Michael Lasser raised the price target to $2,900 from $2,800. Wells Fargo initiates Neogen Corporation at overweight and $22 price target Wells Fargo said it liked the company's improving margins. Wells Fargo initiates Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. at overweight and $550 price target Wells said Bio-Rad's valuation is attractive at current levels.

Persons: Jefferies, John Hecht, LendingClub, Morgan Stanley, Mauricio Serna, Aritzia, Michael Lasser, Carvana, it's, Wells, Ph3, Wells Fargo, Piper Sandler, TD Cowen downgrades, LOE, Michael Bloom Organizations: . Bank of America, Technologies, Nvidia, Bank of America, UBS, West Pharmaceutical Services, Stevanato, MorphoSys, Neogen, Rad Laboratories Inc, SoFi Technologies, Health Companies Locations: EBITDA, 4Q23, BLCO

☆ UBS calls this beauty stock a top idea exiting earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Analyst Michael Lasser named the buy-rated beauty stock a top idea exiting second-quarter earnings season. ULTA YTD mountain Ulta, year to date When reporting earnings last month, the company beat expectations on both lines. Earnings per share came in at $6.88 (including a 14-cent-per-share benefit), ahead of the $6.82 consensus estimate of analysts polled by FactSet. Using that average multiple under the assumption that the market is discounting estimates for next year, he said it can be implied that the stock is anticipating earnings per share of around $15 in 2024. "Perhaps, the market is assigning a lower multiple than the average of the last 5 years," he said.

Persons: Michael Lasser, Ulta, Lasser, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: UBS, FactSet

☆ Upscale homeware brand RH, which sells $5,000 dining tables and $10,000 couches, admits its pricing was 'arrogant'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Mary Hanbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

RH, known for selling pricey furniture, says its prices have been "too aggressive" in the past. The CEO says its addressing this by lowering prices in its new collection, RH Contemporary. Analysts say this strategy could help it to woo aspirational shoppers who were priced out. But its newest collection, dubbed "RH Contemporary," will have a "value proposition that will be disruptive across multiple markets," he said. UBS analyst Michael Lasser said its new pricing strategy suggests that the brand is looking to court aspirational shoppers, which it may have alienated by previous price increases, in order to drive growth.

Persons: —, Gary Friedman, Friedman, what's, Michael Lasser, RH, Lasser Organizations: Contemporary, Analysts, Service, UBS

☆ Discretionary retail is already in a recession and likely to get worse, says UBS' Lasser
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDiscretionary retail is already in a recession and likely to get worse, says UBS' LasserMichael Lasser, UBS Securities, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss if Foot Locker's is a good lens into retail, the notion that certain companies will benefit from trade-downs and the shrinkage issue in retail.

☆ Walmart investors eye margins amid grocery focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Siddharth Cavale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Home improvement chain Home Depot (HD.N) cut its annual forecast on Tuesday, indicating weakness for retailers who sell discretionary merchandise. Yet many shoppers have turned to Walmart for its low-priced basics such as toilet paper, milk, green beans and eggs. Investors such as Charles Sizemore, chief investment officer of Sizemore Capital Management, are looking for any specific hit to Walmart's so called gross profit margin. David Klink, senior equity analyst at Huntington Private Bank, which holds $77 million in Walmart shares, said that if Walmart can re-affirm its margin targets, "that would be very well appreciated by investors." Analysts on average are expecting the retailer to post first quarter margins of 3.7%, according to UBS.

☆ More than 50,000 US retail stores are expected to close in the next 5 years as e-commerce and rising costs push smaller shops out of business
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US has almost a million retail stores, and is on track to shed over 50,000 of them by 2028. Rising costs and more ecommerce are favoring large retailers and pushing smaller ones out of business. UBS analysts say closures could tick even higher if sales growth slows below long-term trends. According to UBS, e-commerce sales are projected to rise to 26% of total retail sales by 2028, up from the current estimated level of 20%. Conversely, stronger sales growth would keep more stores open, the analysts said.

☆ UBS details how consumer spending is under pressure as inflation remains a threat — and reveals 4 top retailers worth investing in
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Consumer spending hasn't collapsed due to high inflation, though pressure is building. The resilience of consumer spending might be the biggest surprise in markets in the past year. To that point, $44 billion AutoZone (AZO) indicated it hasn't seen consumer behavior change and has maintained its margins by passing on costs. 4 retail stocks to buy nowIf there's a consensus among the companies that attended UBS' conference, it's that although consumer spending has held up for now, pressure from inflation is steadily mounting. Those are listed below, along with each company's ticker and market capitalization, as well as selected insights their management teams provided at UBS' retail conference.

☆ How buzzy weight-loss drugs like Ozempic became the next craze in the hottest part of healthcare
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Healthcare companies are launching programs left and right to prescribe trendy weight-loss drugs. And Ro, a startup that prescribes and sells products like Viagra and hair-loss pills to consumers, is going all in with a program it launched in January to prescribe the weight-loss drugs to patients online. CalibrateFirst developed to manage type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 medications regulate blood-sugar levels, which can help people curb cravings and feel fuller after eating. The weight-loss market for GLP-1 drugs is relatively new, and not everyone is on board. But for some companies, stepping into prescribing these new weight-loss medications seems to simply be the natural next step for growth.

☆ Why buzzy weight-loss drugs are the next craze for healthcare startups
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Healthcare companies are launching programs left and right to prescribe trendy weight-loss drugs. And Ro, a startup that prescribes and sells products like Viagra and hair-loss pills to consumers, is going all in with a program it launched in January to prescribe the weight-loss drugs to patients online. Even startups like Noom, which quietly started a program prescribing GLP-1 medications, could stand to benefit from the drugs' popularity after a tumultuous year for the startup. The weight-loss market for GLP-1 drugs is relatively new, and not everyone is on board. But for some companies, stepping into prescribing these new weight-loss medications seems to simply be the natural next step for growth.

☆ Under threat, Weight Watchers enters obesity drug space. Here's what it means for the stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The company's sales have been in a steady multiyear decline after an attempt to de-emphasize weight loss and focus on wellness failed miserably. WW 1Y mountain The parent of Weight Watchers has seen its market value shrink as sales have dropped for several years. Another drug, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, adds a second incretin hormone to the mix and has been shown to be even more successful with weight loss. This trend could provide an opportunity for the core Weight Watchers brand and its focus on behavior modification. That scenario assumes Weight Watchers continues to see membership erosion, while cost controls help minimize margin compression.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with UBS analyst Michael Lasser
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with UBS analyst Michael LasserMichael Lasser, UBS analyst, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss consumer retail spending and earnings reports from Walmart and Home Depot, as well as the organizations best positioned for market volatility.

☆ Home Depot and Walmart a good hedge for today's economic environment, says UBS's Michael Lasser
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHome Depot and Walmart a good hedge for today's economic environment, says UBS's Michael LasserMichael Lasser, UBS analyst, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss consumer retail spending, earnings reports from Walmart and Home Depot, as well as organizations best positioned for market volatility.

☆ How Bed Bath & Beyond ended up on the verge of bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Here’s how Bed Bath & Beyond, once a retailer pioneer, veered to the edge of bankruptcy and where it turns next. Brands coveted a spot on Bed Bath & Beyond’s shelves, knowing it would lead to big sales. Discount chains such as HomeGoods and TJ Maxx and have also undercut Bed Bath & Beyond’s prices. Without the differentiators of the lowest prices or widest selection, Bed Bath & Beyond’s sales stagnated from 2012 to 2019. Otherwise, too much of Bed Bath & Beyond’s revenue will go toward repaying debt that it won’t be able to turn a profit.

☆ Stick with retailers like Walmart, Target and Dollar Tree, says UBS's Michael Lasser
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStick with retailers like Walmart, Target and Dollar Tree, says UBS's Michael LasserMichael Lasser, UBS retail analyst, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss the 2023 grocery stock outlook and expected winners in the sector.

☆ UBS sees these retail stocks winning from a potential Bed Bath & Beyond bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bed Bath & Beyond warned last week that it is running out of cash and is considering filing for bankruptcy protection . Buy Buy Baby is owned by Bed, Bath & Beyond. Some 59% of Bed, Bath & Beyond stores have a Sleep Number location within 10 minutes, according to UBS. HomeGoods, owned by TJX , competes with Bed, Bath & Beyond in home furnishings, kitchen products and other accessories. Some 40% of Bed, Bath & Beyond stores have a Costco within a 10-minute drive, while 43% have a Sam's Club.

☆ CEOs from Kroger and Albertsons say they’re worried about competition from Amazon, but the e-commerce giant barely makes up 1% of US grocery sales
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons say their proposed merger will help them defend against Amazon. But Amazon's market share is a fraction of larger players, including both Kroger and Albertsons. But market share data suggests that a combined Kroger and Albertsons would be much larger by sales than Amazon the day the merger takes place. For all of its moves in grocery, Amazon commanded just 1.2% of sales, according to Euromonitor. The entire US grocery market represented $1.27 billion in sales last year, according to Euromonitor.

☆ Why Target will probably have the best Black Friday discounts this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Target will probably have the best deals this holiday shopping season, UBS analysts say. That's because Target has a glut of inventory it needs to get rid of during the holidays. "Since Target has been amongst the most impacted by having a glut of inventory this year, it will probably set the tone across several categories," the analysts wrote. The analysts visited Target stores and tracked how many items were on sale. They did note that Target's discounting has been less aggressive in categories like apparel and beauty.

☆ Lasser: Target is a good stock to own in the medium to longer term
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLasser: Target is a good stock to own in the medium to longer termMichael Lasser, Equity Research Analyst at UBS, joins Worldwide Exchange to discuss Target's third quarter earnings.

☆ Analysts see one retailer winning this holiday and taking share as Target struggles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In contrast, Target reported an earnings miss Wednesday, with profit that fell by about 50% in its fiscal third quarter. "General merchandise softness continues to be linked to Covid-winner categories (CE, home, and apparel basics), although the category's performance also improved sequentially." Walmart's general merchandise sales fell at a low-single digit pace, its chief financial officer, John Rainey, said on the earnings conference call Tuesday. For Target, the softness in general merchandise is taking its toll. The retailer has made some progress clearing through its excess inventory, but the fiscal thir quarter brought higher-than-expected markdowns, Target said.

☆ Walmart is crushing Target by luring wealthier shoppers and dominating groceries
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Meanwhile, Walmart sales were up over 8% in the quarter and the retailer raised its full-year outlook. Walmart said its success was driven by two factors: its robust grocery business, and an influx of higher-income shoppers in its aisles. That trend began earlier this year as rising inflation nudged wealthier shoppers away from their usual grocery stores and toward Walmart locations across the country. And as upper middle-class shoppers trade down to Walmart's grocery aisles, they may get curious about the rest of Walmart's offerings, Wall Street analysts predict. Walmart is winning the grocery warsBut it's not just wealthier shoppers that are driving Walmart's dominance over Target — it's groceries, too.

☆ What would a Kroger-Albertsons merger mean for grocery prices?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A Kroger-Albertsons merger could reshape the grocery industry. The companies say they will divest hundreds of stores in areas where they overlap to win regulatory approval. Albertsons has higher prices than Kroger and other grocers, analysts say, and they predict Kroger will try to reduce Albertsons prices to be more competitive against discount chains like Aldi. Antitrust advocates say the merger would force out competition and concentrate power among the largest chains, driving up prices. A Kroger-Albertsons merger would spark a fresh wave of mergers and acquisitions as companies seek to keep up, analysts predict.

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