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☆ The Tax Play That Saves Some Couples Big Bucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Laura Saunders | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Spencer Phillips, a 39-year-old orchestral musician who plays the bass violin, loves and trusts his wife of 10 years—but he refuses to file a joint income-tax return with her. Instead, Mr. Phillips and his wife opt into the “married, filing separately” status, called MFS, and each spouse reports only his or her income to the Internal Revenue Service. This saves them a lot of money: By filing separately, and so reducing his stated income, Mr. Phillips’s student-loan payments on about $200,000 of debt from the prestigious Eastman School of Music and other programs come to about $240 monthly instead of more than $1,000.

☆ Child Tax Credit: What to Know for 2022 and 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Laura Saunders | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The 2017 tax overhaul doubled the maximum child tax credit to $2,000 from $1,000 for each child in a family under age 17 at year-end. It applies for both 2022 and 2023. What is the child tax credit? The credit—currently up to $2,000 for each child in a family under age 17 at year-end—is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes that many families with children can claim. It begins to phase out at $400,000 of adjusted gross income for married joint filers and $200,000 for single filers.

☆ CFPB: What it does and why its future is in question
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The CFPB’s missionThe agency was created after the 2008 financial meltdown, as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The broad purpose of the CFPB is to protect consumers from financial abuses and to serve as the central agency for consumer financial protection authorities. It is charged with implementing and enforcing consumer protection laws, making rules and issuing guidance for consumer financial institutions. And it is the place consumers can go to lodge complaints about financial products and services. “It has completely changed the consumer financial marketplace.

☆ TJ Maxx says its assortment of discounted brands is better than ever thanks to store closures elsewhere. Here's how it keeps prices so low.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Mary Hanbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

TJ Maxx sells products at 20% to 60% cheaper than department stores and retailers. TJ Maxx says its thriving because of this. A network of experienced buyersTech accessories on display at TJ Maxx. Buying in bulkThe massive selection of purses and handbags at TJ Maxx. Well-known brands like Ralph Lauren have been known to make items for TJ Maxx in the past, but pulled back in a bid to address worries about brand exclusivity.

☆ Kohl's blamed its rough quarter on a squeezed middle class, but one analyst says it's because stores are a mess
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But one analyst blamed messy Kohl's stores and "dispiriting" stores during the holidays. Kingsbury said that Kohl's store portfolio remains healthy. Kohl's partnerships with other brands is driving sales, CEO saysKohl's and Amazon inked a deal in 2019 that allows Amazon customers to return items to Kohl's stores. Ted Shaffrey/APKingsbury also highlighted Kohl's partnership with Sephora, which operates store-in-store concepts in Kohl's locations across the US. Kohl's previously said that the Amazon partnership drew over 2 million new customers to its stores in its first year.

☆ Here’s our Annual Meeting update on the 7 health care and bank stocks in the Club portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Here's an update on the health care and financial holdings in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio we use at the CNBC Investing Club. At levels below $250 per share, Jim said Danaher is one of the most attractive stocks in the Club's portfolio. Its consumer-products unit will become a company known as Kenvue, while its faster-growing pharmaceutical and medical devices divisions will retain the J & J name. However, there is some litigation risk with J & J after a federal judge in January rejected its strategy concerning more than 38,000 talc lawsuits. Against that backdrop, we view J & J as a quality defensive name to own, especially given its annual dividend yield of around 3%.

☆ American Eagle tops quarterly estimates on steady apparel demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Granth Vanaik | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 1 (Reuters) - American Eagle Outfitters (AEO.N) on Wednesday beat fourth-quarter market estimates, as consumers heading back to work and social events snapped up apparel and accessories despite persistently high inflation. Shares of American Eagle jumped about 7% in extended trading as the company also reinstated a $0.10 per share quarterly cash dividend after pausing it in September. Even as the United States faces once-in-a-generation levels of inflation, demand for sportswear, dresses and cargo pants have remained steady, benefiting apparel makers like American Eagle that have offered higher discounts to shoppers in order to get rid of excess stock. In January, the American Eagle said that its fourth-quarter sales and profit margins were tracking at high end of its forecasts, benefiting from its decision to right-size inventories and a better-than-expected performance at its American Eagle label. Excluding items, American Eagle earned 37 cents per share, above estimates of 30 cents.

☆ Standard Deduction 2022-2023: How Much Is It and Should I Take It?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Laura Saunders | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When it comes to filing your taxes, one of the first big decisions to make is whether you’ll be taking the standard deduction or itemizing your deductions. Taxpayers taking the standard deduction don’t get a specific tax break for having mortgage interest, state and local taxes, or making charitable donations. That likely affects someone’s decisions about making donations or owning a home, among other things during tax season and beyond.

Generative AI boost for Nvidia NVDA 1Y mountain Nvidia (NVDA) 1-year performance Nvidia (NVDA) was the Club's biggest winner in January, climbing 33.7%, and in February its 18.8% monthly gain is second to only Bausch Health (BHC). The stock's exceptional performance this year goes much deeper to company-specific factors — specifically, all the buzz around generative artificial intelligence (AI). "AI adoption is at an inflection point," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on the chipmaker's earnings conference call last week. Bausch bounces, but questions remain BHC 1Y mountain Bausch Health (BHC) 1-year performance Bausch Health (BHC) has had an incredible start to the year, climbing roughly 21% in both January and February. Efficiency commitment lifts Meta META 1Y mountain Meta Platform (META) 1-year performance Meta Platforms (META) has really turned it around, gaining roughly 24% in January and over 17% in February.

☆ Premarket stocks: Big Retail's cautious forecasts are spooking Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Forecasts from Walmart and Home Depot made for a grim day of trading on Tuesday. The mega retailers’ predictions of a weakening economy and a dip in consumer spending this year sent markets tumbling as Wall Street seemed to realize that the Federal Reserve’s campaign to quell inflation could yet lead to recession. What’s happening: We’ve written about the remarkable strength of the US consumer quite a bit here at Before the Bell. Consumer spending accounts for about 70% of America’s gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the US economy, so it’s nearly impossible for the economy to enter a recession as long as consumer spending is growing. American shoppers have almost single-handedly kept the US economy afloat by continuing to shell out cash for purchases despite stubbornly high inflation.

☆ Dow drops more than 500 points as retail earnings disapoint
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The Dow was down 500 points, or 1.5%, on Tuesday afternoon. The S&P 500 fell by 1.6% and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.8% lower. Walmart (WMT) topped revenue expectations, but shares of the stock fell nearly 2% in morning trading after the retailer lowered its outlook for the year ahead. Home Depot (HD) reported record earnings for the fiscal year that ended in January, and boosted both hourly wage and the stock dividend. Shares of the stock fell by nearly 6% on Tuesday as the housing market weakens – US existing home sales dropped to their lowest level in more than 12 years in January.

☆ Returning pharma CEO has one prescription: M&A
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Feb 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Brent Saunders is back in charge of a pharmaceutical company, which usually means one thing: M&A. The buyer, Actavis, appointed Saunders CEO of the combined company. Bausch + Lomb remains a subsidiary of Bausch Health, which owns nearly 90% of the shares. Considering Bausch Health’s stake in Bausch + Lomb is worth more than $5 billion, the implication is that bondholders are in charge. Saunders was CEO of Bausch + Lomb from 2010 until 2013, when it was acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals.

☆ Why energy and tech stocks are struggling Friday — listen to the 'Homestretch'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A NICE RUN. THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU SEE INTERESTRATES RISE, STOCKS TEND TO FALL. NOW, ON THE OTHER HAND, NOTWORKING, THAT'S GOING TO BEENERGY WITH OIL PRICES FALLINGAND NAT GAS MAKING A NEW LOW. THEN, OF COURSE, TECH ISFALLING, AS WELL, BECAUSE ASINTEREST RATES RISE, TECH STOCKSTEND TO FALL. A LOT OF THESE TECH STOCKS, ALOT OF THEM HAVE EARNINGS --MANY ARE NOT PROFITABLE TODAYAND EARNINGS ARE PROMISED IN THEFUTURE.

☆ Eye-Care Company Bausch + Lomb to Name Brent Saunders CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Jared S. Hopkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Brent Saunders is expected to serve in his second stint as the head of Bausch + Lomb. Eye-care company Bausch + Lomb Corp. is expected to name Brent Saunders as chief executive officer and chairman of its board, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Saunders would succeed Joseph Papa , who had said last July that he would step down from his roles running the company and serving on its board. The leadership change could be announced as soon as Wednesday, the people said.

☆ Eye-Care Company Bausch + Lomb Names Brent Saunders CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Jared S. Hopkins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/eye-care-company-bausch-lomb-to-name-brent-saunders-ceo-e7eb0876

☆ Top 10 things the Club is watching in the stock market Wednesday: Retail sales up, stocks dip, Airbnb soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Retail sales for January came in higher than expected. Remember, retail sales are not adjusted for inflation, which of course remains elevated but growing at a slower rate in recent months. Earnings per share (EPS) of 48 cents versus 25 cents expected. Kraft Heinz (KHC) EPS beats: 85 cents versus 78 cents expected. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Buyers swoop in to help the S&P 500 shake off earlier losses — listen to the 'Homestretch'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +17 min

I LIKE A STOCK THAT'S DE-RISKEDWHICH IS WHY I THINK EMERSON ISA GREAT BUY. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD STRATEGY. JEFF, I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TOPUT IT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD SELLTHIS ON THE NOTION THAT THERE'SAN ANALYST WHO MISSED THE WHOLETHING IS SAYING SELLING. >> THAT'S GREAT.

☆ Jim Cramer's Investing Club meeting Wednesday: Retail sales, Devon, Bausch Health
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. Watch Bausch A welcome leadership change at eye-care firm Bausch + Lomb (BLCO) is causing shares of Club holding Bausch Health (BHC) to surge 13% Wednesday, to roughly $8.52 apiece. Bausch Health owns nearly 89% of Bausch + Lomb, so what's good news at BLCO is good news for BHC, too. Saunders is a solid pick to lead Bausch + Lomb, which had been a division of Bausch Health up until May 2022. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER .

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond used to have over 1,000 stores. Soon, it will have just 360.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Bed Bath & Beyond plans to slim down to just 360 housewares stores nationwide. "We continue to put our customers at the center of every decision, positioning Bed Bath & Beyond to meet and exceed their expectations," CEO Sue Gove said in a statement. Bed Bath & Beyond did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. "Store closings, especially of this magnitude, are a symptom of a problem," Saunders said. "Suppliers are very nervous about Bed Bath & Beyond," Saunders said.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond lines up funding in a last-ditch bid to avoid bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Bed Bath & Beyond store in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. Bed Bath & Beyond will live to see another day – at least for now. Bed Bath will receive $225 million in the offering up front plus an additional $800 million in proceeds over time, the company said. Whatever's left over will be used to aid Bed Bath's attempt at a turnaround, the company said. The efforts have evidently failed thus far, forcing Bed Bath to go to the public markets for funding.

☆ Former UK PM Liz Truss is blaming the left-wing 'economic establishment' for ousting her
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

British Prime Minister Liz Truss announces her resignation, outside Number 10 Downing Street, London, Britain October 20, 2022. Henry Nicholls | ReutersLONDON — Former U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss is blaming a "powerful economic establishment" for bringing her chaotic 44-day tenure to an end last year. Truss was elected leader of the Conservative Party in September, defeating her eventual successor Rishi Sunak, after garnering 81,326 votes from party members following the ousting of Boris Johnson. She was acting as if winning a majority of the Conservative Party membership gave her economic credibility, and it most clearly doesn't." Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government vowed to restore this credibility upon taking over in October, and quickly reversed Truss' entire economic agenda.

☆ Amazon is closing certain Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores, suggesting that grocery hasn't been as fruitful as it hoped
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Mary Hanbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon said Thursday that it will close certain Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores. Critics say the focus on tech rather than retail experience in stores is putting off shoppers. Initially, via its online delivery service Amazon Fresh, then through its acquisition of Whole Foods, and more recently with the launch of its Amazon Fresh supermarkets and Amazon Go cashier-less stores. This is a less transactional shopping experience, where customers that come into stores need to be seduced into buying products. Other critics say that Amazon has made the mistake of focusing too much on the tech in stores rather than the retail experience itself.

☆ Peloton forecasts third-quarter revenue above expectations; cash burn slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Priyamvada C | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of the fitness equipment maker were up 4% before the bell after it also reported a slowing cash burn on a string of cost-cutting measures. In response, the company had announced plans to sell its fitness equipment on e-commerce giant Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and at Dick's Sporting Goods Inc (DKS.N) stores. Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy, in a letter to investors, outlined goals of returning to revenue growth and reach cash flow breakeven on a sustained basis in his second year in the role. For the third quarter, Peloton forecast revenue between $690 million and $715 million, above expectations of $689.1 million, as per Refinitiv data. Cash burn fell to $94.4 million from $546.7 million.

☆ Tabasco teams with a TikTok star to surprise hot sauce fans
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“TikTok made us do it,” according to Lee Susen, Tabasco Brand’s chief sales and marketing officer. Tinx, he said, is on a “mission to normalize hot sauce as dressing.”A superfan of the brand, Tinx has been posting her adoration for the hot sauce on her TikTok for the past few years. “There’s a tendency to think about hot sauce as only an agent of heat,” he said. He added that since hot sauce uses are limited compared to other condiments, Tabasco Brand has to innovate to keep growing. “They will hope that their hot sauce dressing provides a new avenue and converts some new customers to the brand.

☆ McDonald's hiked prices and started offering adult Happy Meals — and sales are soaring
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Dominick Reuter | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McDonald's reported double-digit sales growth for 2022, driven by a 5% increase in customer count. The brand attributed the bump to a combination of higher menu prices and unique promotions, like adult Happy Meals. The Chicago-based fast food giant reported a 10.9% increase in same-store sales for 2022, powered by a blockbuster fourth-quarter increase of 12.6%. Like many companies last year, McDonald's raised prices and widened profit margins, but that didn't deter customers. On the call, Kempczinski told investors the chain is seeing some signs of a pullback in consumer spending.

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