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Picture two retirees with the same nest egg making opposite choices. One locks in $80,000 a year today with little growth. The other accepts $50,000 a year today, growing at 8% annually. For most of a decade, the first retiree looks like the obvious winner. Then the math quietly turns. The dividend-growth bet takes roughly 12 years to pay off, and most investors quit long before it does.

The $80,000 Income Target, Three Ways Start with the equation that drives every retirement income decision: target income divided by yield equals capital required. An $80,000 annual income looks very different depending on where the yield comes from.

Conservative tier (3% to 4%). Dividend-growth blue chips and broad dividend ETFs. At a 3.5% blended yield, $80,000 requires roughly $2.29 million in capital. This includes Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction), yielding about 2.2% with 64 consecutive years of dividend increases; Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) at 2.9% after its 70th consecutive annual increase; and Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) at 2.5%, riding 63 straight years of raises. Low current income, high projected growth.

Moderate tier (5% to 7%). Covered-call ETFs, REITs, preferred shares, high-dividend equity funds. At a 6% yield, $80,000 requires roughly $1.33 million. Income arrives faster, but dividend growth flattens and principal often stalls.

Aggressive tier (8% to 14%). Business development companies, mortgage REITs, leveraged option-income funds, high-yield bond funds. At a 10% distribution rate, $80,000 needs only $800,000. The catch: distributions are frequently cut, and principal often erodes.

The Crossover, Year by Year The power of dividend growth is not obvious at first. Consider two portfolios. One pays a flat $80,000 every year. The other starts at $50,000 but increases its income by 8% annually.

For several years, the higher-yield portfolio looks like the clear winner. Then compounding takes over. By year 7, the growing portfolio is nearly matching the flat payer. In year 8, it pulls ahead. By year 12, it is generating roughly $116,000 annually, about 46% more than the portfolio still paying $80,000.

The cumulative income takes longer to catch up. Over the first 12 years, both portfolios deliver nearly the same total cash. But around year 13, the growing portfolio overtakes the flat one in lifetime income received. After that, the lead continues to widen.

Inflation makes the difference even more important. A portfolio paying the same dollar amount year after year loses purchasing power as prices rise. A portfolio growing its income faster than inflation can help retirees maintain, and potentially improve, their standard of living over time.

Why Most Investors Quit Before Year 12 The strategy is simple. The behavior is brutal. Three forces push investors out of dividend-growth portfolios right before the curve bends.

Recency bias. Five years of underperforming a 10% yield fund feels like evidence the strategy is broken. JNJ delivered a 168% 10-year total return, but plenty of years inside that window felt like dead money. Yield chasing. A 10-year Treasury near 4.5% and high-yield ETFs at 10%-plus make a 2.5% dividend look broken. An 8% growing stream catches a 10% flat stream in about three years and laps it thereafter. Income envy. Watching a neighbor collect $80,000 while you collect $50,000 is socially painful. Investors abandon plans for emotional reasons almost always within sight of the crossover. Three Moves Before You Commit First, calculate what retirement actually costs. Many retirees spend far less than they earned while working, which can dramatically reduce the amount of portfolio income they need to generate.

Second, compare total returns, not just yields. High-yield investments often produce more income upfront, but dividend-growth investments have historically delivered stronger long-term returns thanks to rising payouts and capital appreciation. A portfolio that starts slower can finish much stronger.

Third, look at the after-tax income. Qualified dividends from companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and The Coca-Cola Company may qualify for lower tax rates than some high-yield distributions, which can narrow the advantage advertised by headline yields.

The biggest risk is not choosing the wrong portfolio. It is abandoning the right one before the compounding has time to work. A strategy that reaches its full potential in year 12 only rewards investors who are still holding it in year 12.

Disney DIS looks poised for a big box office weekend as Toy Story 5 heads into theaters with expectations of one of the strongest openings of the year.

Early forecasts suggest the latest installment in Pixar's flagship franchise could generate $145 million to $150 million domestically across roughly 4,400 screens. Internationally, the film is expected to add another $135 million or more, putting its global opening above $280 million. That would top the opening performance of many recent family releases and put it in striking distance of the $120 million debut posted by Toy Story 4.

The setup is favorable. Schools are out for summer, competition is relatively light, and Disney is leaning on one of its strongest brands. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack all return, while Taylor Swift contributed a new song to the soundtrack, adding another layer of mainstream appeal.

the story extends beyond ticket sales. A strong opening would reinforce the value of Disney's family franchises while benefiting theater operators, IMAX screens and merchandise partners such as Mattel. The U.S. box office is already up 11.6% year over year to $4.13 billion.

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Spend a day at Shanghai Disneyland and you wouldn't know Chinese consumers are struggling.

Wang Jiandong and his girlfriend Yan Xu said they have been skipping meals out and scrimping on day-to-day necessities so they could afford to enjoy the park.

"We save in our daily lives so we can spend more on trips," Wang explained while taking photos with Yan in front of Disney's iconic castle. "This is a romantic place."

Shanghai Disneyland celebrated its 10th anniversary this week, with former Disney CEO Bob Iger flying in for the festivities.

"I'm feeling filled with pride really," Iger told CNBC during an interview at the park. "I've been involved in this project from the very beginning in the late '90s."

Iger said the occasion carried extra significance "knowing not only how successful it's been, but really how important it is in many respects, not just to the Walt Disney Co. but to the people of China."

Shanghai Disneyland hit 100 million cumulative visitors in 2025, according to the company. It's a relatively new but important foothold in Disney's more than 100-year history.

Disney's experiences division, which includes its theme parks, resorts, cruises and merchandise, reported nearly $9.5 billion in revenue during the company's most recent quarter, ended in March, a 7% increase year over year. The division is the second largest at Disney's, accounting for almost 40% of the company's overall revenue and nearly 60% of its operating income.

While Disney executives have noted recent softness in international visitors to the company's U.S. parks, its outposts in other countries are faring better.

According to the Themed Entertainment Association, which tracks global theme park data, the Shanghai park attracted 14.7 million visitors in 2024 — a 5% year-on-year increase — making it the fifth most-visited theme park in the world behind Disney parks in Orlando, Florida; Anaheim, California; and Tokyo as well as Universal Studios Japan.

Under newly appointed CEO Josh D'Amaro, Disney is eyeing further global expansion, with a new cruise ship berthed in Singapore and a forthcoming park and resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The company announced a 10-year, $60 billion investment into its parks in 2023.

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"Because of the available property and because of the properties, the intellectual property that Disney has, the opportunities to expand are limitless," Iger told CNBC this week. "As long as the business is successful, which it has been, there is no reason why it won't continue to expand over time."

Iger, who stepped down from his second stint as CEO in March and is still a member of its board of directors, declined to comment on reports that Disney is considering another theme park for China. 

A cautious Chinese consumerShanghai Disneyland is bucking a bigger trend in China: consumption broadly is poor.

Retail sales dropped in May for the first time in three years. Car sales are down by double digits. People are downgrading their consumption, but they haven't cut back altogether.

"Young people in China today are not refusing to consume. Rather, they care more about 'value for money,'" Lin Huanjie, president of the Institute for Theme Park Studies in China, said in written comments to CNBC.

"If a Disney trip delivers strong memories, compelling social content, and high emotional value, they are still willing to pay," Lin said. "If it is just an ordinary visit, they will tighten their budgets. The popularity of characters like LinaBell in China also shows that young consumers, even under economic pressure, are still willing to pay for emotionally comforting consumption."

University student Smile Wei is one such parkgoer.

Wei traveled with a friend for a vacation to Shanghai and told CNBC their budget was 5,000 yuan ($735) for the five-day trip. They already spent a fifth of that at the park, Wei said.

"My friend and I planned to book a hotel room with two beds," Wei said. "But we downsized to a single to buy more souvenirs here."

Shanghai resident Wang Lu told CNBC she specifically wanted to be at the park on June 16.

"It's both my birthday and the park's 10th anniversary," she said. "There is nowhere else I would rather spend this special day."

The ‘Acquired' podcast traces Walt Disney's formula to generate reliable profits in a hits-based industry, or basically why we now buy Elsa everything

The famed sheriff and his space ranger sidekick are back again with the weight of The Walt Disney Company (DIS +0.28%) on their animated shoulders. Toy Story 5 opens in theaters on Friday, June 19, and it won't be just another Pixar movie for the entertainment conglomerate. This time around, the 31-year-old franchise will see if it can move the needle for a company in need of a win.

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The early signs look good. The film should gross more than $200 million in its opening weekend. Yet, it's not just the movie depicting toys versus tech that could propel Disney. The Toy Story franchise is a serious business across Disney's entire business model. The film will provide momentum for Disney's licensing and merchandise, as well as a renewed reason to visit the theme parks. All told, a successful release would translate into billions in revenue for Disney. 

Image source: The Motley Fool.

The company could use the positive news. The box office has been volatile for several years. A change in executive leadership and several legal and regulatory battles have dominated Disney's headlines, so a strong summer on the back of a blockbuster film could be the spark the stock needs. No, one movie won't solve all of Disney's issues, but positive headlines and renewed interest in the brand are a start.

As of June 17,  Disney's stock has fallen more than 11% in 52 weeks.  It has shed 42% over the past five years. As the original fans of this classic franchise introduce a new generation to the characters this weekend, Disney investors should hope Toy Story 5 is the fresh start the newly appointed CEO, Josh D'Amaro, needs. I think this film brings enough star power and fan loyalty to make it work.

Catie Hogan has positions in Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disney's Toy Story franchise still has some buzz.

The fifth installment in the Pixar film series tallied $160 million during its opening weekend, the highest in franchise history. Internationally, "Toy Story 5" snared $152 million, bringing its estimated global haul for the three-day period to $312 million.

"Toy Story 4" was the previous record holder for the franchise, generating $120.9 million at its opening in 2019, according to Rentrak data. In total, the film series has collected more than $3 billion at the global box office since the first film debuted in 1995, with two of its installments surpassing $1 billion each worldwide.

"Toy Story 5" had the second-highest opening for an animated feature, just behind "Incredibles 2," which secured $182.7 million domestically in 2018.

Around 11.5 million moviegoers headed out to see "Toy Story 5" during Father's Day weekend, according to data from EntTelligence. And more than a fourth of audiences opted for pricier premium large-format screenings. IMAX reported $11.5 million in domestic ticket sales and $18.4 million globally.

"Toy Story 5" continues the trend of strong theatrical showings for family-friendly titles, as nearly 70% of ticket buyers were part of family groups.

"Another incredible summer weekend is on the books as powered by the massive debut of 'Toy Story 5,' a movie that had appeal across every imaginable audience demographic and thus became the ultimate four-quadrant movie," said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak.

In the last two years, family-friendly fare with a PG rating has won at the box office, outperforming PG-13 and R-rated films, Rentrak data shows.

Additionally, animated features are not usually front-loaded at the box office, meaning they steadily generate ticket sales over the course of their run in theaters, gaining word of mouth.

"Disney and Pixar orchestrated a perfectly timed, flawlessly marketed film that charmed audiences and critics alike that is now set up for weeks of solid playability in movie theaters as it powers toward $1 billion and beyond at the worldwide box office," Dergarabedian said.

A boom year was accelerated by a franchise-best opening weekend for Disney's “Toy Story 5.”

Walt Disney DIS shares are slightly down following a recent surge, despite impressive weekend box-office results for Toy Story 5, which earned $312 million globally. This debut marks the largest movie opening of 2026 and the best launch in the franchise's history, bolstering the case for DIS's intellectual property (IP) strategy. However, the absence of a new operating update has led to a period of consolidation for the stock.

Franchise Engine: Toy Story 5's success extends beyond box-office numbers. DIS can leverage its franchises across various platforms including theatrical releases, Disney+, consumer products, theme parks, and digital experiences, highlighting the unique earnings potential of its character portfolio. Muted Stock Reaction: Following DIS's recent stock performance, investors may have already factored in expectations for a stronger content lineup. They are now looking for concrete evidence that franchise momentum will enhance streaming engagement, boost consumer product sales, and accelerate overall earnings. Streaming Quality: In Q2, reported on May 6, DIS saw a 13% increase in Entertainment SVOD revenue, with operating income soaring 88% to $582 million. The SVOD margin reached 10.6%, indicating that streaming is becoming more profitable. Additionally, SVOD advertising revenue grew by 12%, providing another monetization avenue. Experiences Resilience: Disney Experiences revenue rose 7% in Q2, with segment operating income increasing by 5%, both achieving record highs for the fiscal quarter. However, domestic attendance dipped by 1%, and pre-opening costs impacted profit margins. Investors are also monitoring potential pressures from Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando. Parks Outlook: Management indicated that international visitor challenges and Epic Universe-related issues are expected to lessen. Meanwhile, Disney World bookings remain robust, and domestic attendance is anticipated to improve in Q3 compared to Q2. Sports and Capital Return: Last quarter, DIS raised its FY26 adjusted EPS growth forecast to around 16%, including an additional week, and reaffirmed double-digit growth for FY27. However, Q3 sports operating income may decline by about 14% year-over-year due to programming costs and timing. At least $8 billion in buybacks for FY26 is also planned to support shareholder returns.The recent success of Toy Story 5 serves as a testament to DIS's franchise strategy. The company's narrative is not solely based on theatrical performance but also on its capability to transform major IP into streaming engagement, merchandise sales, and long-term consumer connections. The stock's subdued movement is understandable given its recent performance, as the box-office news alone does not alter the short-term outlook. Future indicators will focus on DIS's ability to maintain double-digit streaming revenue growth with sustainable margins, stabilize domestic park attendance amid Epic Universe competition, and keep ESPN profitable in the face of rising sports rights costs. If these elements align, DIS could see a more resilient earnings recovery beyond just hit-driven content rebounds.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS, XETRA:WDP) is expected to report modestly improving attendance trends at its domestic theme parks in its fiscal third quarter, Bank of America analysts have projected ahead of the entertainment giant’s upcoming report.

The bank’s analysts wrote that Disney's Experiences segment likely benefited from a slight improvement in US attendance compared with the fiscal second quarter, despite broader industry commentary pointing to mixed demand trends at theme parks.

The analysts also noted that lower fuel prices could provide an additional boost to consumer spending through the summer months.

Bank of America noted that gains from stronger attendance are expected to be partially offset by costs associated with cruise ship dry docks, though comparisons should also benefit from lower pre-opening expenses than a year earlier.

Within Disney's Sports business, the bank wrote that strong viewership for the NBA Finals likely supported results, but shorter playoff series and the blackout of NFL Network programming on some distributors may have weighed on performance.

In the studio segment, analysts said Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu performed below expectations.

Bank of America also highlighted Disney's progress in its direct-to-consumer streaming business, noting that the company has expanded margins in recent years and remains on track to achieve double-digit subscription video-on-demand margins in fiscal 2026. However, the bank expects Disney to continue investing in growth initiatives, particularly international content production, which could support subscriber and revenue growth while moderating the pace of future margin expansion.

The firm maintained its fiscal third-quarter estimates for Disney, projecting revenue of $25.38 billion, operating income of $5.30 billion and earnings per share of $1.87.

It also left unchanged its fiscal 2026 earnings forecast of $6.88 per share.

Bank of America reiterated its ‘Buy’ rating on Disney shares and a price target of $125, above current levels of about $102, citing expected growth in streaming profitability, a recovery in parks attendance, long-term opportunities in sports, and the company's management team.

The company will report its Q3 earnings on August 5.

Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen) and Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) in "Toy Story 5."

Disney-Pixar

Toy Story 5 scored the biggest opening weekend of 2026 with $160 million in domestic ticket sales June 19-21, but will that affect the streaming plans for the Disney-Pixar release?

Directed by Finding Nemo and WALL-E filmmaker Andrew Stanton, Toy Story 5 is the first film in the franchise to hit theaters since Toy Story 4 was released in 2019. The original Toy Story, of course, got the ball rolling in 1995, followed by the releases of Toy Story 2 in 1999 and Toy Story 3 in 2010.

Forbes‘Toy Story 5’ End Credits Scenes: Why You Should Stay In Your SeatsBy Tim Lammers

The new Toy Story finds digital devices disrupting the lives of Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and Jessie (Joan Cusack) when the digital device Lilypad (Greta Lee) is given to 8-year-old Bonnie (Scarlett Spears). aThe young girl immediately becomes entranced with Lilypad, while all of her traditional toys fall by the wayside.

In addition to earning $159.6 million from 4,425 North American theaters over the weekend, Toy Story 5 made another $150.5 million in international ticket sales in its opening frame, resulting in a staggering opening globally tally of $310.1 million in its first three days of release. With the start like that, Toy Story may very well be heading toward a $1 billion worldwide box office take like its predecessors Toy Story 3 ($1.068 billion) and Toy Story 4 ($1.071 billion).

Forbes‘Toy Story 5’ Rotten Tomatoes Reviews Cheer New Chapter In 31-Year-Old StoryBy Tim Lammers

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Despite the film’s blockbuster start and potentially lucrative box office run, it’s unlikely that Disney will change its strategy for the film’s digital release. Currently, the studio has in place a two-month window between its film’s theatrical premiere dates and releases on digital streaming via premium video on demand, no matter how much the films make in theaters.

Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2’ And Live-Action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Each Had 2-Month Theatrical-To-PVOD WindowsDisney released two films in 2025 that went on to gross more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The first was Lilo & Stitch, a live-action and animated hybrid remake of the studio’s 2003 animated classic.

Released on May 23, 2025, the film made its debut on PVOD a day shy of two months later on July 22, 2025, while it was still thriving in theaters. By the time the film wrapped up its North American theatrical run on Oct. 2, 2025, it banked nearly $423.8 million domestically and $614.2 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $1.038 billion.

Forbes‘Supergirl’ Opening Weekend Tracking Number Drops Ahead Of Friday ReleaseBy Tim LammersWalt Disney Animation Studios also followed its two-month theatrical-to-PVOD formula for Zootopia 2, which opened in theaters on Nov. 26, 2025, and arrived on digital streaming just over two months later, on Jan. 27, 2026.

Like Lilo & Stitch, Zootopia 2 maintained a long theatrical run despite its PVOD availability, as it finally wrapped up its domestic run on Oct. 2, 2026, with $428 million in ticket sales. Coupled with the film’s $1.442 billion in international receipts, Zootopia 2 ended up with a worldwide box office tally of $1.870 billion.

As such, viewers looking forward to watching Toy Story 5 at home are looking at Disney implementing its two-month theatrical-to-PVOD for the film’s release, which would mean an Aug. 18 digital streaming debut, since new releases typically arrive on Tuesdays.

ForbesMattel’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Demon Jinu Doll Picked By Fans Comes To Pre-SaleBy Tim LammersIt is worth noting, though, that since Zootopia 2 and Lilo & Stitch are Disney productions, and Toy Story 5 is a Disney and Pixar production (since Disney owns the venerable animation studio), the wait for the film to arrive on PVOD may be a week longer.

In 2024, Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out 2 — which earned $1.698 billion worldwide during its theatrical run — was released in theaters on June 14, 2024, and debuted on PVOD about 2 months and one week later, on Aug. 20, 2024. In 2025, however, Disney-Pixar’s financial dud Elio had a two-month window as it debuted in theaters on June 20 and arrived on PVOD on Aug. 19.

So, if Toy Story 5 follows the same release pattern as Inside Out 2, viewers are looking at an Aug. 25 release.

ForbesHot Wheels SDCC Exclusives Inspired By ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Stranger Things’ And ‘Top Gun’By Tim LammersPVOD releases from Disney generally run anywhere from $24.99 to $29.99 to purchase, or $19.99 to $24.99 to rent for a 48-hour period. New films on PVOD are typically available on a variety of digital platforms, including Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube Movies & TV.

Jessie (voice of Joan Cusack), Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen) and Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) in "Toy Story 5."

Disney-Pixar

When Will ‘Toy Story 5’ Arrive On Disney+?For Disney+ subscribers, there’s generally a three-and-a-half-month window — specifically, 103 days — between the time Disney’s films premiere in theaters and arrive on the streaming service.

Both Inside Out 2 and Lilo & Stitch arrived on Disney+ 103 days after their respective theatrical debuts, while it took Zootopia 2 105 days to debut on the platform since the film opened on a Wednesday. Should Toy Story 5 follow the same release pattern, then viewers can expect the film to arrive on Disney+ on Sept. 30, since new films typically debut on the platform on Wednesdays.

Currently, the only way you can see Toy Story 5 is in theaters, so check your local listings for showtimes.

ForbesCyndi Lauper WWE Action Figure Set Among Mattel’s San Diego Comic-Con ExclusivesBy Tim Lammers

It's not fun mapping out apocalyptic stock market scenarios, but it's worth knowing how your portfolio might hold up under duress. Stocks have been in a bull market for most of the past couple of decades, but there's bound to be some adversity -- it's part of being a long-term investor.

You shouldn't necessarily avoid risk. Often, younger, faster-growing companies, or tech stocks at the cutting edge of innovation, can generate life-changing returns. But it's wise to include some blue chip dividend stocks that have time-tested, rock-solid businesses that will endure, no matter what happens to the broader market.

These three stocks are Dividend Kings, meaning they have each raised their dividend for at least 50 consecutive years. They probably belong in your portfolio.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. This could be the world's most resilient business Altria Group (MO +0.03%) sells tobacco and nicotine products in the United States, led by its Marlboro cigarette brand. Smoking rates in the United States have steadily declined for many decades. Yet Altria Group has 56 consecutive years of annual dividend increases. And yes, Altria ships fewer cigarettes each year. Despite that, Altria continues to grow its profits by cutting costs and raising prices. Nicotine might be the most addictive legal substance on Earth, which affords tobacco companies unique pricing power.

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The obvious concern is that eventually, this playbook won't work as volumes shrink too much to overcome. But that concern is now decades old, and Altria still chugs on. Management has failed to diversify the business, but there's still time to get that right over the coming years. Altria's dividend payout ratio is still manageable at 75% of 2026 earnings estimates, and Wall Street anticipates low-to-mid single-digit annualized earnings growth.

Until then, Altria stock boasts a robust 5.9% dividend yield, sells a recession-proof product, and will almost assuredly continue inching that dividend higher year after year. Investors should be able to buy Altria and sleep well at night, at least for the next several years.

2. This retail giant still has a bright future Walmart (WMT +0.39%) is the world's largest retailer and a focal point of consumer spending in the United States. Its massive size and scale give it leverage with suppliers and overwhelming efficiencies to sell its goods at low prices that competitors simply cannot sustain. Today, roughly 90% of Americans live within a short drive of a Walmart store.

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Consumers can go to Walmart for groceries and household essentials, pick out a new TV, and have their tires changed, all in the same trip. Therefore, Walmart stores are typically busy, and that constant activity has made it a tremendous dividend stock with 53 consecutive annual dividend increases. Walmart has also adapted to industry changes, utilizing its store network to compete with Amazon in e-commerce. That has become a major growth engine for the future.

Analysts see Walmart growing earnings by 9% to 10% annually over the next three to five years, funding more dividend hikes along the way. Shoppers will almost certainly continue shopping at Walmart, so there's almost zero risk that the bottom will fall out of this world-class business model. Investors can buy, hold, and continue to count on Walmart no matter how shaky the markets may become.

3. A Buffett favorite and iconic brand The Coca-Cola Company (KO +1.03%) adds to this ongoing theme of products people need, no matter what happens. People will always get thirsty, and Coca-Cola is the best at capitalizing on that. It's a global beverage juggernaut with countless distribution points worldwide, including stores, venues, vending machines, you name it. Coca-Cola is known for its namesake soda but also sells dozens of other brands of soda, water, juice, coffee, tea, and more.

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There's no better endorsement a stock can get than from legendary investor Warren Buffett, who bought Coca-Cola stock for Berkshire Hathaway in the late 1980s. Buffett is a known fan of the iconic brand, and Berkshire Hathaway still holds the stock today. Part of the reason for that is Coca-Cola's clockwork-like dividend. The company has paid and raised the dividend for 64 consecutive years. Plus, the stock offers a solid initial dividend yield of 2.5% right now.

There's no reason to doubt the resiliency of Coca-Cola's dividend. Analysts see the company growing earnings by an average of 7% to 8% annually over the next three to five years. Coca-Cola sells more than 2.2 billion servings each day. All those little transactions add up to massive profits, and it's unlikely people worldwide will suddenly stop drinking its products. Investors can be like Buffett and put their hard-earned capital into Coca-Cola stock.

Altria (MO - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $68.97, demonstrating a -1.75% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.22%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.98%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 1.35%.

The stock of owner of Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette maker has fallen by 5.15% in the past month, lagging the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 1.54% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.56%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Altria in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on July 30, 2026. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.48, showcasing a 2.78% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $5.35 billion, up 1.06% from the year-ago period.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $5.68 per share and a revenue of $20.53 billion, indicating changes of +4.8% and +1.96%, respectively, from the former year.

Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Altria should also be noted by investors. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. As of now, Altria holds a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

In terms of valuation, Altria is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.35. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 12.77.

Also, we should mention that MO has a PEG ratio of 2.62. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The average PEG ratio for the Tobacco industry stood at 2.12 at the close of the market yesterday.

The Tobacco industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 193, positioning it in the bottom 21% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Don't forget to use Zacks.com to keep track of all these stock-moving metrics, and others, in the upcoming trading sessions.

Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.

McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.

His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.

TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.

McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Target (TGT - Free Report) . Shares have added about 3.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Target due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Target Beats Q1 Earnings Estimates on Strong Sales, Raises ViewTarget reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year. The company witnessed broad-based momentum across merchandise categories and sales channels, aided by improved traffic trends, solid digital performance and continued strength in high-margin non-merchandise businesses. Management also raised its fiscal 2026 sales outlook following the better-than-expected start to the year.

Target’s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics & InsightsTarget reported adjusted earnings of $1.71 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41 by 21.3%. The bottom line also increased 31.5% from adjusted earnings of $1.30 reported in the year-ago period. The big-box retailer generated net sales of $25,443 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24,460 million by 4%. The metric increased 6.7% year over year from $23,846 million.

Merchandise sales rose 6.4% to $24,894 million, while non-merchandise sales surged 24.6%, driven by strong growth in Roundel advertising revenues, Target Circle 360 membership income and the Target+ marketplace. Advertising revenues climbed to $246 million from $163 million in the prior-year quarter.

Meanwhile, comparable sales increased 5.6% against a decline of 3.8% in the year-ago quarter. The improvement reflected a 4.4% rise in traffic and a 1.1% increase in average transaction amount. Comparable store sales rose 4.7%, while comparable digital sales jumped 8.9%, led by more than 27% growth in same-day delivery powered by Target Circle 360.

All six core merchandising categories registered year-over-year sales growth in the quarter. Food & Beverage, Beauty and Household Essentials remained key growth drivers, while Hardlines, Apparel and Home categories also posted gains amid improving consumer demand trends.

TGT’s Margin PerformanceGross margin expanded 80 basis points to 29% from 28.2% last year. The improvement was driven by lower markdown rates, supply-chain productivity gains, and growth in advertising and other high-margin revenues, partially offset by higher product costs.

SG&A expense rate increased to 21.9% from the prior-year GAAP rate of 19.3%. Excluding interchange fee settlement gains in the year-ago quarter, adjusted SG&A expense rate increased modestly from 21.7%. The increase reflected higher compensation costs, additional field training hours, higher incentive compensation, increased marketing expenses and planned investments in capital projects.

Adjusted operating income increased 29.1% year over year to $1,135 million, while adjusted operating margin expanded to 4.5% from 3.7% in the prior-year quarter.

Target’s Financial Health SnapshotTarget ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $3,534 million compared with $5,488 million at fiscal 2025-end. Inventory remained well controlled at $12,317 million versus $13,048 million in the prior-year quarter. Long-term debt and other borrowings stood at $14,282 million, while shareholders’ investment totaled $16,395 million.

Capital expenditures increased 31% year over year to $1 billion, primarily driven by investments in new stores and remodel activity.

The company paid dividends of $516 million in the quarter. It did not repurchase shares in the fourth quarter and has approximately $8.3 billion remaining under its August 2021 authorization.

For the trailing 12 months, after-tax return on invested capital was 12.4%, down from 15.1% in the prior-year period.

A Sneak Peek Into TGT’s FY26 OutlookThe company raised its fiscal 2026 net sales outlook following stronger-than-expected first-quarter performance. Target now expects net sales growth of around 4% for the current fiscal year compared with its earlier expectation of about 2% growth. The company also continues to anticipate net sales growth in every quarter of the year.

Management expects the fiscal 2026 operating income margin rate to improve by more than 20 basis points from the adjusted operating margin rate of 4.6% reported in fiscal 2025. The company expects GAAP and adjusted earnings per share near the high end of the previously guided range of $7.50-$8.50.

Management emphasized that it remains focused on disciplined investments in store operations, technology capabilities, fulfillment services and merchandising initiatives while maintaining flexibility in an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Target has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a score of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Target has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Key Takeaways Target plans about $5B in 2026 capex for new stores, remodels, supply-chain facilities and tech upgrades.Target opened its 2,000th store, advanced 100 remodels and plans more than 30 new stores this year.Target's Q1 gross margin rose 80 basis points to 29%, while inventory turns improved more than 10%. Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) kicked off fiscal 2026 with an aggressive capital expenditure of $1 billion during the first quarter. This represents a substantial 31% increase compared to the prior year, fueled by heightened investments in new stores and comprehensive store remodels. The retail giant plans to maintain this momentum by deploying approximately $5 billion for the full year, with funds directed toward new stores, remodels, supply-chain facilities and technology upgrades.

The early financial indicators provide positive signals regarding asset productivity and operational execution. Target achieved a notable milestone by opening its 2,000th store while advancing more than 100 remodel projects. The company plans to open more than 30 stores this year and intends to add about 300 new stores by 2035. Management highlighted that remodel investments are being prioritized in food and other frequency-driven categories where returns have been strongest.

The supply chain is another major recipient of capital. Target recently opened a food distribution center in Colorado and a receiving facility in Houston that is expected to process roughly 25 million cartons annually. These investments are designed to improve inventory availability, increase network capacity and reduce operational inefficiencies. These improvements are particularly important because Target fulfills more than 95% of sales through its stores.

Early indicators suggest these investments are already supporting performance. First-quarter gross margin expanded 80 basis points to 29%, aided in part by supply-chain productivity improvements. Inventory productivity also improved, with inventory turns rising more than 10% year over year.

Still, the ultimate measure of success will be whether these projects generate returns above Target’s current capital efficiency levels. For the trailing 12 months through the first quarter, after-tax return on invested capital fell to 12.4% from 15.1% a year ago. Management remains confident that driving sustainable top-line growth through enhanced physical and digital capabilities will ultimately fuel margin expansion and optimize long-term capital efficiency.

How Dollar General and Costco Compare to TargetDollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) is investing heavily to drive long-term returns through store enhancements, technology and expansion initiatives. In first-quarter fiscal 2026, Dollar General spent $352 million on capital projects, including store remodels, relocations, new store openings and technology upgrades. The company completed 659 Project Renovate remodels and 711 Project Elevate remodels during the quarter while reaffirming plans for roughly 4,730 real-estate projects in fiscal 2026. DG envisions capital expenditures between $1.4 and $1.5 billion for fiscal 2026.

Meanwhile, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) continues to invest aggressively in warehouse expansion, digital capabilities and member experience. Costco expects capital expenditures of roughly $6.5 billion this year to support new warehouses, remodel existing locations and enhance its digital platform. The company is targeting more than 30 net new warehouse openings annually in the coming years, reflecting confidence in the long-term returns from these investments. Strong membership growth and nearly 90% renewal rates further support Costco’s investment strategy.

What the Latest Metrics Say About TargetTarget has seen its shares jump 13.7% over the past three months compared with the industry’s rise of 2.1%. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Target's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 15.27, lower than the industry’s ratio of 31.26. However, TGT is trading above its 12-month median level of 13.41. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 3.9% and 10.3%, respectively. The consensus mark for earnings has risen 13 cents to $8.35 per share over the past 30 days.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Target currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

  Vancouver, BC – June 23, 2026 – TheNewswire - Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (“Stellar” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SPX, TGAT: 6YP and FSX: 6YP) is pleased to announce a 10,000 meter auger drill program at the Stellar-MetalsGrove Joint Venture Zuénoula Gold Project, Cote d’Ivoire.

Highlights

•        Joint venture operator MetalsGrove Mining Ltd. (“MetalsGrove”) has consolidated the exploration targets at the Zuénoula Permit into four principal prospects - Fifty-Five, Central, South East and South West Prospects following ongoing technical review and field verification of multiple gold anomalies.

A two-rig, two-stage 10,000-meter auger drilling program is planned to test gold anomalous clusters at the Fifty-Five, Central and South East Prospects, with mobilisation and commencement targeted for end June.  

Recent soil geochemistry interpretation has defined a total of 7 Potential Drill Targets within the consolidated4 prospects on the permit. These targets will be progressively refined through ongoing infill soil sampling and auger drilling before drilled by Aircore/Reverse Circulation (AC/RC) or diamond drilling (DD) from late 2026.  

Infill soil sampling programs continue across all four prospects at varying grid spacings,with results continuing to enhance target definition and prioritisation for drill testing.  

About the Stellar-MetalsGrove Joint Venture Zuénoula Gold Project, Cote d’Ivoire.

The Stellar-MetalsGrove Zuénoula Gold Project is a joint venture exploration project between Stellar’s Ivorian subsidiary Aucrest SARL (“Aucrest”) and MetalsGrove Mining Ltd.’s Ivorian subsidiary MetalsGrove CDI Pty Ltd (MetalsGrove) to advance Stellar’s 395.78 square kilometer early-stage exploration permit called Zuénoula in Côte d’Ivoire (see Figure 2 below). Pursuant to the joint venture agreement MetalsGrove, the project operator, may earn up to a 50% interest in the Zuénoula Gold Project by incurring US$3,000,000 in exploration expenditures and up to an 80% interest in the Zuénoula Gold Project by incurring a total of US$6,000,000 in exploration expenditures. (For further details of the Stellar-MetalsGrove Joint Venture Agreement see Stellar news release December 9, 2025.)

Stellar Management Commentary

Stellar President and CEO J. François Lalonde commented:

"Following extensive soil sampling and target refinement, the joint venture exploration team has consolidated the Zuénoula Permit into four principal prospect areas and are preparing to commence a 10,000-meter auger drilling program across the 7 defined potential drill targets. The program is designed to test the bedrock potential beneath surface gold anomalies and represents a critical step towards AC, RC and diamond drilling later this year.

  The definition of seven potential drill targets marks an important milestone in the systematic exploration approach and highlights the growing scale and prospectivity of the Zuénoula Gold Project. Several targets exhibit kilometre-scale strike lengths and remain open to further refinement through ongoing infill soil sampling. With more than 1,700 soil samples currently awaiting assay results, there is significant potential to further expand these targets and discover more targets across the permit.

  We look forward to updating shareholders as auger drilling commences and additional soil sampling assay results continue to strengthen the discovery potential at Zuénoula."

  MULTIPLE NORTHEAST-TRENDING GOLD ANOMALOUS TRENDS IDENTIFIED

Stellar is pleased to announce the planned commencement of a two-rig, two-stage, 10,000 meter auger drilling program at its Zuénoula Permit in Côte d’Ivoire to test the area’s seven potential drill targets defined from multiple gold anomalies identified through the Company’s systematic soil geochemistry programs.

  The joint venture operator has consolidated the exploration targets at the Zuénoula Permit into four principal prospects following ongoing technical review and field verification of multiple gold anomalies identified from completed various surface soil sampling programs to date (Figure 1). The Fifty-Five Prospect now incorporates the original Fifty-Five Prospect and its northeastern extension, while the South East Prospect combines the former Konezra Prospect with the South East Prospect. The Central Prospect and South West Prospect remain unchanged from previous reporting. This refinement provides a clearer framework for exploration targeting and reflects the Company's growing understanding of the distribution and continuity of gold anomalism across the project area.

 
Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1. Zuénoula Soil Sampling Progress Across the Four Consolidated Exploration Prospects

  A two-rig, two-stage, 10,000 m auger drilling program within the Fifty-Five, Central and South East Prospects has been designed (Figure 2) to test the most significant gold anomalous clusters identified. Stage 1 will comprise approximately 5,000m of drilling on a nominal 400m × 50m drill pattern, followed by Stage 2 infill drilling on a 250m × 25m spacing, subject to the results obtained from the initial phase. Auger drilling is planned to an average depth of approximately five metres to test the mineralisation potential from the upper saprolite horizon. Results from ongoing soil infill programs across all three auger target areas will be incorporated into final drill planning to further refine and optimise drill line locations prior to commencement. The two-rig mobilisation and commencement date is scheduled for end June 2026.

  Interpretation of the current soil geochemistry dataset (Figure 1 & Table 1) has increased the definition of potential drill targets to 7 (Figure 2), each exhibiting kilometre-scale prospective strike length (Figure 3 and 4). These targets will continue to be refined through ongoing infill soil sampling and auger drilling programs, with the objective of defining coherent bedrock-related mineralisation suitable for follow-up AC/RC or DD from late 2026.

  Infill soil sampling continues at varying grid spacings across all four prospects at the Zuénoula Permit. To date, assay results have been received for 1,617 soil samples, while a further 1,755 samples are awaiting laboratory analysis. An additional 306 samples are scheduled for collection.

 
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Figure 2. Planned Auger Drilling Areas and 7 Potential Drill Targets Defined at Zuénoula Permit

  
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Figure 3. Planned Auger Drilling Areas and Potential Drill Targets Defined  

at Fifty-five and Central Prospects

  
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Figure 4. Planned Auger Drilling Area and Potential Drill Targets at South East Prospect

  Next Phases of Work

The Company has planned the following next phases of exploration programs to advance the identification of new potential drill targets and refine existing potential drill targets for drill testing:

Auger drilling: 

Auger drilling across 3 Prospects: 10,000 meters in 2 stages. 

Soil Sampling: 

Fifty-Five Prospect NE: 200m*200m (pending sampling) 

South East Prospect: 200m*200m (pending assay results) 

Fifty-Five Prospect: 2000*50m (pending assay results) 

Central Prospect: 2000*50m (pending assay results) 

Five-Five Prospect East: 200*200m (pending assay results) 

South West Prospect: 400m*400m (pending assay results) 

  Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Robert Perring, a current member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG) and Exploration Manager of MetalsGrove Mining Limited. Mr. Perring is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Stellar Africagold Inc.

  Stellar AfricaGold Inc. is a Canadian precious metal exploration company focused on precious metals

in North and West Africa, with active programs in Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire. Stellar’s principal exploration projects are its advancing gold discovery at the Tichka Est Gold Project in Morocco, and its

early-stage exploration Zuénoula Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire which is operated in Joint Venture with MetalsGrove Mining Ltd subsidiary, MetalsGrove CDI Pty Ltd.

  The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange symbol TSX.V: SPX, the Tradegate Exchange TGAT: 6YP and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange FSX: 6YP.

  The Company maintains its head office in Vancouver, BC and has a country office in Marrakech, Morocco.

          QA/QC

  JORC Code, 2012 Edition – Table 1

Section 1- Sampling Techniques and Data

  Criteria

JORC Code Explanation

Commentary

Sampling Techniques

Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialied industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as downhole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.) These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. 

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. 

Aspects of the determination ofmineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. 

  In cases where ‘industry standard’ work has been done, this would be relatively simple (e.g. ‘reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay’). In other cases, more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information.

  No drilling has been undertaken on Zuénoula PR-750

  All soil samples collected on Zuénoula PR-750 have been analysed for gold by fire assay at Bureau Veritas laboratory in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

  SOIL SAMPLING STAGES

Stage 1: Initial, permit-wide, broad-spaced soil sampling on 1000m x 1000m grid 

Stage 2: Gold anomalous clusters and trends defined by multiple anomalous soil samples (+20ppb Au) are then infilled with soil samples collected on 400m x 400m grid  

Stage 3: Coherent gold soil anomalies are then infilled with soil samples collected on 200m x 200m grid 

Stage 4: Higher density 200m x 50m soil sampling to sharpen definition of gold soil anomalies 

Stage 5: Augering and trenching of coherent gold soil anomalies 

Stage 6: Drill testing of gold soil and auger anomalies.  

  SOIL SAMPLING PROCEDURES

MGA has contracted the experienced consulting group SEMS Exploration Services (SEMS) to conduct all soil sampling 

Up to four sampling crews may be active at any one time 

The MGA Exploration Manager was onsite at the start of the field program to instruct the sampling crew on the Standard Sampling Procedure required by MGA  

MGA provided SEMS Exploration Services with an Excel table listing the designated sample point locations using WGS-84 UTM zone 29N coordinates 

Each soil sample is collected from within 20 metres of the designated sample point, with the actual sample point then recorded 

At each sample point: 1) the organic rich soil is brushed away, 2) a 40cm deep hole dug and the sample collected by taking a channel-cut along the bottom 20cm of the hole, 3) 1000g of the minus 2mm sieved fraction of each sample is collected from the sample point, 4) gold is determined by fire assay (LDL 2ppb) 

Duplicate samples are collected every 20th sample, certified reference material (CRM) inserted every 20th sample, and blanks inserted every 20th sample. 

Samples are stored at the secure SEMS field compound in Zuénoula prior to transport to Bureau Veritas in Abidjan of gold analysis. 

Drilling Techniques

Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. corediameter,tripleorstandard tube,depthofdiamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc).  

  No drilling has been undertaken. 

Drill Sample Recovery

Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. 

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. 

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade,andwhether samplebias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarsematerial. 

No drilling has been undertaken. 

Logging

Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnicallyloggedtolevel of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, miningstudiesandmetallurgical studies. 

Whether loggingisqualitativeor quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography. 

Thetotallengthandpercentage oftherelevantintersections logged. 

No drilling has been undertaken 

Soil samples are comprehensively logged for a range of parameters including colour, soil horizon, sample weight, slope, dominant grain size (clay, silt, sand), general topography, residual or transported, proximity to artisanal workings, other ground disturbances such as field plowing, and general land use (grassland, plantation, crop, etc.). 

Sub-sampling Techniques and Sample Preparation

Ifcore,whethercutorsawnand whether quarter, half or all core taken. 

Ifnon-core,whetherriffled,tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry. 

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. 

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stagestomaximise representivity of samples. 

Measures taken to ensure that thesamplingisrepresentativeof the in-situ material collected, including, for instance, results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. 

Whethersample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. 

No drilling has been undertaken  

No sub-sampling of the 1000g soil samples is undertaken prior to the sample arriving at Bureau Veritas laboratory 

At Bureau Veritas, the entire 1000g sample is pulped prior to the laboratory taking a 50g split for lead collection fire assay determination of gold concentration.  

    Quality of Assay Data and Laboratory Tests

The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying andlaboratoryproceduresused and whether the technique is considered partial or total. 

Forgeophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments,etc.,theparameters used in determining the analysis, including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrationfactorsapplied,and 

their derivation, etc.

Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, externallaboratorychecks)and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. 

Bureau Veritas is an internationally accredited assay laboratory located in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. 

Assay results for all samples presented in the announcement were determined by fire assay (Lab Code: FE450, LDL 2ppb), which is a total gold extraction method for analysis. 

The lower detection limit (LDL) of 2ppb is considered appropriate for greenfields, early stage, exploration soil sampling 

Fire assay gold is considered one of the most reliable assay techniques for gold analyses.    

Verification of Sampling and Assaying

The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. 

Theuseoftwinnedholes. 

Documentationofprimarydata, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. 

Discussanyadjustmentstoassay data. 

FIRE ASSAY ANALYSIS

All samples have been analysed for gold by fire assay at Bureau Veritas laboratory in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire 

The 1000g -2mm sample collected in the field is analysed for gold by fire assay (Lab Code: FE450, LDL 2ppb) 

At the laboratory, the 1000g -2mm sample is dried and pulverised to 85% passing 75 microns. 

This sample pulp is then mixed with a combination of chemical reagents, which when heated to high temperatures results in the formation of a lead button and slag. The lead button that contains the precious metals (including gold) is cupelled at high temperature. The lead is adsorbed by the cupel leaving behind a bead that contains the precious metals. 

The bead is acid digested and analysed by AAS, with a lower detection limit of 2ppb Au 

  Location of Data Points

Accuracy and qualityof surveys used to locate drillholes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. 

Specification of the grid system used. 

Quality and adequacy of topographic control. 

A handheld GPS is used to locate the soil data positions, with a +/-5m vertical and horizontal accuracy 

Sample locations (UTM WGS-84 zone 29N) and sample descriptions are noted on a standard form in the field and entered on a computer. 

GPS measurements of sample positions are sufficiently accurate for exploration targeting gold systems. 

Data Spacing and Distribution

Data spacing for reporting Exploration Results. 

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geologicalandgradecontinuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. 

Whethersamplecompositing hasbeenapplied. 

An 1,000m x 1,000m offset grid pattern has been adopted for the entire permit area, excluding areas of irrigated sugar cane and villages.  

Broad-spaced soil sampling (1000m by 1000m) and low level gold fire assay analysis (LDL 2ppb) is considered an effective technique for identifying and delimiting gold anomalous clusters and trends, which are then followed up with higher density sampling at 400m 400m, 200m x 200m, and in some areas 200m x 50m, as the next phases of sampling ahead of trenching, augering, and drill testing of coherent gold soil anomalies. 

  Orientation of data in relation to geological al structure

Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. 

If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. 

The sample location configuration has been deliberately planned to avoid directional bias. 

Sample security

The measures taken to ensure sample security. 

1000g of -2mm sieved fraction of soil samples are collected in plastic bags, assigned individual sample numbers and transported to the secure SEMS compound in Zuénoula 

Samples have been analysed by fire assay at Bureau Veritas in Côte d’Ivoire and were personally transported to the laboratory by a senior member of the MetalsGrove Abidjan-based exploration team.  

Audits or Reviews

The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. 

The sampling and assay techniques adopted by MetalsGrove has been effectively used in the Vavoua-Kounahiri district, and more widely in Cte d’Ivoire, to define drill targets and it is considered an effective initial approach for defining gold anomalous lithogeochemical trends. 

  Section 2 - Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Criteria

JORC Code Explanation

Commentary

Mineral Tenement and Land Tenure Status

Type, reference name/number, location and ownership, including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. 

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting, along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. 

Following the acquisition of the three Gemica joint venture (JV) permits PR-454 (granted), PR-1063 (application) and PR-1102 (application) in Côte d’Ivoire, MetalsGrove entered another JV with TSX-V listing company Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (Stellar) on PR-750 Zuénoula.   

Zuénoula PR-750 was granted on 17 April 2024 for an initial four-year period, renewable for two additional three-year periods.  

The Zuénoula permit is located with Kounahiri West, Vavoua and Vavoua West permits occupy a combined area of 1,315 km², strategically situated along the Abujar–Napie gold trend within the Oumé–Fetekro Birimian greenstone belt in central west of Côte d’Ivoire, approximately 100 km north of the Abujar gold mine and 160 km south of the Napié gold project. 

Exploration Done by Other Parties.

Acknowledgement and appraisal of exploration by other parties. 

MetalsGrove is not aware of any previous systematic exploration for gold having been conducted within either Zuénoula PR-750, Vavoua PR-454, Vavoua West PR-1102, or Kounahiri West PR-1063 

Geology

Deposit type, geological setting, and style of mineralisation. 

The Vavoua, Vavoua West, Kounahiri West and Zuénoula permitsare located in the central west of Côte d'Ivoire at the south edge of the West Africa craton. This region is the world’s largest Proterozoic gold-producing region, and Cte d’Ivoire contains 35% of the region’s Birimian Group rocks, which host multiple multi-million-ounce gold ore systems. 

The GEMICA JV permits and Stellar JV permit, together cover a combined area of 1,315 km², and are strategically situated along the Abujar–Napié gold trend within the Oumé–Fetekro Birimian greenstone belt, and are located approximately 100 km north of the Abujar gold mine and 160 km south of the Napié gold project. 

Drillhole Information

A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results, including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: 

easting and northing of the drillhole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level – elevation above sea level in metres) of the drillhole collar dip and azimuth of the hole  

down hole length and interception depth hole length. 

No drilling results are included in this release. 

Data Aggregation Methods

In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g., cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. 

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated, and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. 

The assumption used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. 

No data aggregation methods were applied to the soil sampling data. 

Relationship Between

Mineralisation Widths and

Intercept Lengths

If the geometry of mineralisation with respect to the drillhole angle is known, its nature should be reported. 

Not applicable. 

Diagrams

Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported. These should include, but not be limited to, a plan view of drillhole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. 

See maps in the body of the report. 

Balanced Reporting

Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practied, avoiding misleading reporting of Exploration Results. 

The soil assay data was interpreted by the MGA Exploration Manager who has more than 40 years of gold exploration experience. MGA assay results are also interpreted with reference to the surface geochemical expressions of more than 15 of the major gold discoveries in Cote d’Ivoire.  

Other Substantive Exploration Data

Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported, including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples – size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. 

Not applicable. 

Further Work

The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions, or depth extensions, or large-scale step-out drilling). 

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. 

Completion of 200m x 200m sampling at Fifty-Five Prospect NE area. 

Plotting and interpreting the assay results for the 1755 soil samples currently being assayed at Bureau Veritas. 

Start stage 1- 5,000 metres auger drilling at 400m x 50m spacing at refined 7 Potential Drill Targets area across Fifty-Five, Central and South East Prospects.  

   Stellar’s President and CEO J. François Lalonde can be contacted at +1 514-9940654 or by email at [email protected]. Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.stellarafricagold.com.

  On Behalf of the Board

J. François Lalonde

President & CEO

  This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements which may not have been based solely on historical facts but rather may be based on the Company’s current expectations about future events and results. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis.

Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, exploration risk, mineral resource risk, the Company not achieving the production milestones described herein, changes in business plans or commodity prices, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, geopolitical country risk, and the risk factors described in the Company’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Retail

Target’s Turnaround Wins Another Wall Street Backer

In this article

It’s a down day for the market, but not for Target: The big-box retailer got an upgrade from Wolfe Research, the latest vote of confidence for its nascent turnaround.

LoveShackFancy, Hollister, Overtime and more bring trend-forward styles to guests for the back-to-school and back-to-college season More than 50% of the assortment is new this year, with thousands of items exclusive to Target across apparel, school supplies, dorm decor and more Everyday value, wish lists and Target Circle offers — including 20% off for teachers and college students1 — help guests discover and save on trend-right styles , /PRNewswire/ -- Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is bringing together the brands, trends and value students and families are looking for this back-to-school and college season, with more partnerships than ever, design-led owned brands and standout assortments across apparel, school supplies, dorm and more. Backed by a standout assortment of new and exclusive products, Target continues to strengthen its merchandising authority as a destination for style, design and value.

Target Kicks Off Back-to-School and Back-to-College with Style at the Center, Newness and More Partnerships, All at Incredible Value

Target Kicks Off Back-to-School and Back-to-College with Style at the Center, Newness and More Partnerships, All at Incredible Value

Target Kicks Off Back-to-School and Back-to-College with Style at the Center, Newness and More Partnerships, All at Incredible Value

Target Kicks Off Back-to-School and Back-to-College with Style at the Center, Newness and More Partnerships, All at Incredible Value

"Back-to-school and back-to-college are big moments for families and at Target we believe shopping for them should be inspiring and joyful – an opportunity for delight as you find everything you need," said Cara Sylvester, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target. "So we've put together an assortment with more trend-forward style, great design and unrivaled value than ever before. It's distinctly Target. And combined with a seamless shopping experience, it's even easier for students of all ages to discover fun, new ways to express themselves."

The season's biggest style launches
Among the season's standout launches is LoveShackFancy x Target, available beginning July 5 for a limited time only. Designed for tweens and teens, the exclusive partnership brings the brand's feminine aesthetic to apparel, accessories, beauty, school supplies and more. The collection retails for under $55, with most items under $25, and includes special extra finds featuring LoveShackFancy's iconic prints from Yoobi, Wet Brush, Goody, Case-Mate and Wild.

Additional new brand launches include:

Overtime expands its sports-inspired style at Target with an exclusive collection featuring Overtime apparel at Target for the first time alongside backpacks, lunch accessories and water bottles. The collection starts at $24.99 and is available online and in select stores June 14 and nationwide July 5. The Hollister Collection at Target is available beginning June 28 with apparel, accessories and, a first for Hollister, home products including bedding and dorm decor, with most items priced under $50. Owala x Cat & Jack launches nationwide July 5 with backpacks, lunch bags, water bottles and accessories featuring playful details like mini backpacks and bag charms, with many items priced between $3 and $25. Poppi x Target is now available with a limited-time, only-at-Target dorm collection that brings Poppi's bright, playful aesthetic to robes, decorative pillows, throw blankets, Hydrojugs and mini fridges, with items starting at $20. Target's owned brands are delivering style and value across every school-year need, including:

All in Motion is expanding into the uniform shop for the first time and bringing comfortable and versatile active-inspired styles to everyday school wardrobes starting at $15.  Threshold is making its dorm debut with elevated decor, warm textures and stylish designs, with most items priced under $50.   up&up is launching a new pastel school supplies collection featuring notebooks, folders and other classroom essentials in soft, modern colors, starting at $0.69.  Room Essentials is refreshing its dorm assortment with colorful bedding and decor, with sheet sets starting at $10 and comforters starting at $20. Cat & Jack is adding fresh prints, bright colors and versatile styles starting at $5. Dealworthy continues to make school essentials more affordable with $5 backpacks, $3 lunch bags, and $2 bento boxes and water bottles. Extra savings on must-have styles
For early shoppers, Target Circle Deal Days continues through June 26, featuring up to 45% off sought-after school and college essentials. College students and teachers who are members of the free Target Circle loyalty program can save even more, including 20% off one storewide purchase from July 5 through Sept. 121 and more than 50% off an annual Target Circle 360 membership 2.

Bringing style to life across every touchpoint
In stores, guests will find even more ways to express their personal style and school pride through expanded personalization options and locally tailored college gameday destinations. On Target.com and in the Target app, AI-powered recommendations for student and teacher wish lists help surface forgotten essentials and inspire stylish finds. Through the back-to-school campaign, Do Your Thing, and back-to-college campaign, Let's Run to Target, guests will discover fresh style inspiration, new trends and ideas for the school year ahead.

About Target
Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) brings together style, design and value to offer a distinct assortment and elevated shopping experience across more than 2,000 U.S. stores and online. Powered by more than 400,000 team members, Target serves millions of families each week and invests in the communities where they live and work to support growth and opportunity for all.

1 Subject to terms and conditions. Valid July 5, 2026, through September 12, 2026. College student or teacher verification required.
2 Verified teachers and college students pay $49/year for an annual membership (regular price $99/year).

SOURCE Target Corporation

On June 12, Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)(SPCX +0.71%) entered the record books as the largest initial public offering (IPO) in Wall Street's storied history. It nearly tripled the capital raise of the previous recordholder, Saudi Aramco, and made a brief run after its debut to a nearly $3 trillion market cap.

Given that SpaceX combines two of the largest addressable opportunities, artificial intelligence (AI) and the space economy, retail investor demand for shares has been otherworldly. Additionally, CEO Musk has a track record of delivering outsize returns with his other trillion-dollar company, Tesla.

Image source: Getty Images.

With parabolic sales growth forecast over the coming years, one Wall Street analyst foresees SpaceX reaching $401/share and becoming a $5.3 trillion company by the end of 2027. But historical precedent has a much better track record of forecasting price targets than Wall Street analysts.

Trying to guess which direction a hot IPO will move in the short term is incredibly difficult. Retail investor hype and emotion are virtually impossible to quantify.

However, in the weeks leading up to SpaceX's debut, the research team at Truist Financial released a data set detailing the performance of 30 of the most-hyped, tech-driven IPOs over the last 14 years. Beginning with Facebook (now Meta Platforms) in May 2012, Truist tracked the returns of these brand-name IPOs at various intervals, up to 12 months.

Moral of the story-do NOT chase hot IPOs

Year-1 average drawdown = 55%
Year-1 median drawdown = 54%

Table: Truist pic.twitter.com/xt864JD4Xh

-- Puru Saxena (@saxena_puru) June 3, 2026 But the most telling statistic from Truist's data set is the maximum year-one drawdown for each of the 30 IPOs. On average, these tech-centered IPOs endured a peak-to-trough drawdown of 55% within the first 12 months after their debut, with 11 of 30 plummeting 64% to 90%.

If the assumption is made that SpaceX put in its high last week at $225.64 per share, a 55% maximum drawdown would take it to $101.53 within the next 12 months.

Image source: Getty Images.

SpaceX shares can plunge a lot further than historical precedent suggests While a $101.53 price target would effectively align with history, SpaceX may be an outlier for one of Wall Street's biggest year-one drawdowns.

Thanks to amended index inclusion rules for the Nasdaq-100 and U.S. Russell Indexes, coupled with SpaceX's historically low post-IPO float, it's likely to receive an index fund-buying boost during its first few weeks as a public company. But once this initial buzz fades, it could be a long ride down.

SpaceX's staggered lockup period for insiders may prove disastrous for retail investors. Instead of a typical 180-day lockup period where insiders can't sell their shares, SpaceX provides several time- and performance-based unlock periods to allow insiders to dump their shares on retail investors.

Great look at the SpaceX shares unlock schedule as well as the potential passive buying schedule from @JSeyff @FrancisSharoon Depending on the early post-IPO returns, this could really play with and disperse the returns of "passive" funds (which is why there's arguably no such... pic.twitter.com/KOuEkJlngF

-- Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) May 28, 2026 Musk's AI and space company also brings a historically unsustainable valuation to the table. Companies at the forefront of game-changing technologies haven't been able to sustain price-to-sales (P/S) ratios above 30 for an extended period. SpaceX ended the previous week at a P/S ratio of almost 131!

Furthermore, SpaceX's prospectus notes that the company will issue debt and equity to expand its AI data center infrastructure and for mergers/acquisitions. It's a virtual guarantee that retail investors will contend with share-based dilution.

History says SpaceX is headed for $101.53 -- but I believe this is a generous target for an unproven and unprofitable company.

Sean Williams has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms, Tesla, and Truist Financial. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Costco appears better positioned than Target, backed by resilient memberships and stronger earnings momentum.COST saw membership fee income rise 10.7%, with Executive members accounting for about 75% of sales.Target has outperformed year to date, but Costco's loyalty, execution and growth prospects stand out. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) are two prominent names in the Retail–Discount Stores industry. Costco, with a market capitalization of approximately $424.7 billion, operates a membership-based warehouse model that offers a wide assortment of products at competitive prices. The company runs a global network of 931 warehouses, including 639 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico.

Target, by contrast, has a market capitalization of roughly $60.9 billion and operates more than 2,000 stores across the United States. Renowned for its blend of value, convenience and style, Target offers an extensive selection of merchandise spanning essentials, groceries, apparel, home furnishings, and beauty products. Its strong private-label portfolio and omnichannel capabilities have helped it remain a preferred destination for a broad range of shoppers.

As consumers continue to navigate evolving economic conditions and shifting spending priorities, the key question for investors is which retail giant is better positioned to generate stronger returns in the periods ahead.

The Case for CostcoCostco remains one of the compelling long-term investments in the retail space, given its industry-leading value, loyal membership base, and consistent execution across both physical and digital channels. The company’s focus on offering high-quality merchandise at compelling prices continues to resonate with consumers who are selective about where and how they spend. This value-driven positioning has allowed Costco to remain relevant across different economic cycles while strengthening its relationship with members. The membership-based model creates a recurring and highly predictable revenue stream.

Membership fee income increased 10.7% year over year to $1,373 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. Renewal rates remained strong at 92.2% in the United States and Canada, and 89.7% worldwide. Costco is also seeing continued growth in its higher-tier Executive Membership program, which is particularly important because these members tend to shop more frequently, spend more per visit and engage with a broader range of offerings. Executive members now account for approximately 75% of total sales.

The digital ecosystem is also becoming an increasingly important growth engine. Management highlighted strong engagement across its website, mobile app, same-day delivery platform and personalized digital offerings. The company is also leveraging artificial intelligence, enhanced search capabilities and personalization tools to enhance product search and increase conversion rates. Costco is also improving checkout speed through mobile wallet enhancements, digital membership cards and the international rollout of shopping cart pre-scan. These investments should support member traffic and productivity over time. Digitally enabled comparable sales increased 21.5%, while site and app traffic surged 37% during the quarter.

Costco’s warehouse business continues to generate healthy traffic and spending trends. The company currently operates more than 930 warehouses globally and expects to end the fiscal year with approximately 940 locations while targeting more than 30 net new warehouse openings annually over time. Management continues to see significant expansion opportunities across Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Spain, France and the United Kingdom. At the same time, Costco is investing approximately $6.5 billion this year to expand warehouse capacity, remodel high-volume locations, increase logistics capabilities, support Kirkland Signature products and enhance digital infrastructure.

The Case for TargetTarget has emerged as one of the most compelling turnaround stories in retail, supported by a clear strategic vision, strengthening customer engagement, and a renewed focus on long-term growth. The company is executing a broad transformation centered on merchandising, store operations, digital capabilities and customer experience. These initiatives are resonating with consumers, positioning Target to capture market share and drive sustainable growth.

One of the most encouraging aspects of Target is the strength of its merchandising strategy. Management has sharpened its focus on high-opportunity categories such as beauty, health and wellness, food, baby, home and toys, where the company enjoys strong brand credibility and consumer loyalty. By introducing new products, refreshing assortments more frequently and creating trend-driven offerings that appeal to families and younger shoppers, Target is rebuilding its reputation as a destination for style and value. Target added around 1,500 new health and wellness items and plans to refresh about 40% of that assortment this year while introducing 3,000 new food items.

Target’s omnichannel ecosystem remains another major competitive advantage. The company has successfully integrated its stores, digital platforms and fulfillment capabilities into a seamless shopping experience that meets customers wherever they choose to shop. Same-day fulfillment services, digital growth initiatives and membership offerings are driving stronger customer engagement while reinforcing convenience and loyalty. At the same time, Target’s extensive store network serves as both a shopping destination and a fulfillment engine, allowing the company to deliver speed and efficiency while maintaining attractive economics.

The company continues to expand its store footprint, remodel existing locations and invest in high-return growth opportunities across its business. At the same time, it benefits from a growing mix of higher-margin revenue streams, including advertising, marketplace services and membership programs, which provide additional earnings diversification beyond traditional retail sales. Combined with a strong balance sheet, a long history of returning capital to shareholders and management’s confidence in the company’s long-term outlook, these factors make Target an attractive investment opportunity for investors seeking a blend of growth, profitability and durable competitive advantages.

Target now expects net sales growth of around 4% for fiscal 2026 compared with its earlier expectation of about 2% growth. However, management noted that Target faced its easiest comparison in the first quarter and will face a tough comparison in the second quarter, including the anniversary of last year’s Nintendo Switch 2 launch. Management further suggested that higher tax refunds likely helped consumer spending in the first quarter, with that benefit expected to fade over the rest of the year.

COST vs. TGT: How Do Estimates Stack Up?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.4% and 13.3%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 7.8% rise in sales and 10.2% growth in earnings. Over the past 30 days, the consensus estimates for earnings per share for the current and next fiscal years have increased by 5 cents and 6 cents to $20.38 and $22.46, respectively.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share calls for year-over-year growth of 3.9% and 10.3%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 2.9% rise in sales and 6.4% growth in earnings. Over the past 30 days, the consensus estimates for earnings per share for the current and next fiscal years have increased by 2 cents and 3 cents to $8.35 and $8.89, respectively.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

COST vs. TGT: A Look at Past-Year Stock PerformanceTarget has significantly outperformed Costco on a year-to-date basis. While Costco shares have gained 11.1%, Target stock has surged rallied 37.2%, reflecting stronger recent investor sentiment and a more robust market performance.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

COST vs. TGT: A Peek Into Stock ValuationCostco trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 43.40, below its one-year median of 46.54, but still at a premium to the industry average of 31.31. On the other hand, Target’s forward 12-month P/E of 15.66 sits above its median of 13.42, yet remains below the broader industry level.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

COST vs. TGT: Which Stock Looks More Promising Now?While both retailers possess compelling strengths, Costco appears to be the better choice for investors at this stage. Its highly resilient membership-driven business model, consistent execution, expanding global footprint and stronger earnings momentum provide greater visibility into long-term growth. Although Target has made meaningful progress in its turnaround efforts and offers attractive valuation support, Costco’s superior operating consistency, customer loyalty and growth prospects make it the more compelling investment for investors seeking durable returns.

Both Costco and Target carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our analyst ratings page.

Considering buying DAL stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Falling crude prices are boosting the airline sector this morning, Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) last seen up 2.9% at $84.59. The equity remains within a chip-shot of its June 15 record peak of $87.39, up 21% for 2026 thanks to an added layer of support at the 20-day moving average.

Options traders were extremely call heavy ahead of the crude-induced surge. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Delta Air Lines stock's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 2.15 ranks in the 70th annual percentile.

This sentiment is echoed by the stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.16, which ranks higher than 89% of readings from the past year. Should these bullish bets begin to unwind, it could trigger headwinds for the airline outperformer.

Short sellers have been retreating, with short interest down 4.9% during the most recent reporting period. This accounts for nearly 4% of the stock's available float, or over two days' worth of pent-up buying power.

It's also worth noting that the stock sports a Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 12 out of 100. This suggests the equity has consistently realized lower-than-expected volatility over the past 12 months -- a boon to premium sellers.

Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines will hold a live conference call and webcast to discuss its June quarter 2026 financial results at 10 a.m. ET, Friday, July 10th, 2026.

A live webcast of this event will be available at ir.delta.com and an online replay will be available shortly after the webcast is complete.

About Delta Air Lines

No one better connects the world

Through exceptional service and the power of innovation, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) never stops looking for ways to make every trip feel tailored to every customer.

There are 100,000 Delta people leading the way to deliver a world-class customer experience on up to 5,500 daily Delta and Delta Connection flights to more than 300 destinations on six continents, connecting people to places and to each other.

Delta served more than 200 million customers in 2025 – safely, reliably and with industry-leading customer service innovation – and was recognized by Cirium for being the top on-time airline in North America for the fifth consecutive year.

We remain committed to ensuring that the future of travel is connected, personalized and enjoyable. Our people's genuine, enduring motivation is to make every customer feel welcomed and cared for across every point of their journey with us.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines

Also from this source

Delta Air Lines has outperformed the market, rising 77% in the past year, reflecting strong fundamentals and resilience. Despite robust Q1 results and a 14.7% dividend increase, DAL now trades at a forward P/E of 12x, appearing fairly valued. I downgrade DAL from buy to hold due to heightened macro risks, potential rate hikes, and increased near-term downside risk.

As American travelers feel the pinch of inflation and elevated airline costs, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian revealed exactly what it will take for ticket prices to decline, pointing directly to a lack of market supply rather than solely fluctuating fuel costs.

"People ask me all the time – what's happening with prices?" Bastian told FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. "Prices will come down when we can fly more, when there's more supply, it's a supply and demand. Right now we're kind of logjammed."

"There's not a lot of supply we can bring in because the air traffic control system is congested. As you open up the skies, and you bring more flow, that's going to help bring pricing down and enable us to bring more people to more places," he said.

After months of elevated prices due to conflict in Iran and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, commercial traffic is ramping up in the key waterway after Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last Wednesday signed a 14-point memorandum aimed at ending the war. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that 19 million barrels of oil flowed out of the Strait of Hormuz the day prior.

JETBLUE CUTS BACK AT NEWARK, LAGUARDIA AIRPORTS AS AIRLINE SHIFTS FOCUS TO FLORIDA

"I think the initial shock, you know, prices went up about 10 to 15%, not just [at] Delta, across the airline industry. And I think that was probably the right level," Bastian said. "Oil prices have come down now, so I think we're in a pretty good spot."

Delta CEO Ed Bastian visits "Mornings With Maria" at Fox Business Network Studios on June 23, 2026. (Getty Images)

However, Bastian revealed that rising energy costs directly hit Delta’s bottom line by nearly $2 billion, forcing the airline's hand in raising ticket prices.

"We had no choice," he said, while also spotlighting how government spending accountability and deregulation could also bring ticket prices down.

"We have seen more progress being made to eliminate those bottlenecks and continue to allow aviation to flow smoothly in the last year and a half than we've had probably in the last number of decades. It's that significant," Bastian noted.

"I hope, as an American people, we continue to invest in that future. It's probably the smartest investment that we can make, because what we're doing is, we're making the air flow more smoothly. We're enabling people not just for safety – safety is always our top priority – but [allowing] for more flights," which the CEO says ultimately mitigates customer costs.

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Bastian also discussed how Delta has recaptured investment-grade ratings from all three major credit agencies, won back Berkshire Hathaway as a top shareholder and is expanding localized operations such as "Delta TechOps" into a multibillion-dollar third-party maintenance powerhouse.

"We're going to get to a point here in the next couple of years where our balance sheet will be a fortress balance sheet, something that's never really happened in our industry to that point," he said. "This is the industry that the U.S. holds as the gold standard… So whether it's Boeing, whether it's our airlines, our aviation space, our technical prowess and know-how, we're the gold standard."

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Fox News’ Greg Norman-Diamond and Emma Bussey contributed to this report.