Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies. It also provides dry grocery, dairy, frozen food, beverages, candy, snacks, deli, bakery, meat, and food service; electronics, which includes video game hardware and software, toys, entertainment, sporting goods, and luggage; and furniture, lighting, storage, kitchenware, small appliances, home decor, bed and bath, home improvement, school/office supplies, greeting cards and party supplies, and other seasonal merchandise. In addition, the company sells merchandise through periodic design and creative partnerships, and shop-in-shop experience; and in-store amenities. Further, it sells its products through its stores; and digital channels, including Target.com. Target Corporation was incorporated in 1902 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Target Corporation

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Target Corp (Symbol: TGT), where a total volume of 37,098 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 3.7 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 46.3% of TGT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 8.0 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $140 strike put option expiring January 16, 2026, with 5,220 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 522,000 underlying shares of TGT. Below is a chart showing TGT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $140 strike highlighted in orange:
Etsy Inc (Symbol: ETSY) options are showing a volume of 15,505 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.6 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 45% of ETSY's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 3.4 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $58 strike call option expiring December 26, 2025, with 10,679 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.1 million underlying shares of ETSY. Below is a chart showing ETSY's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $58 strike highlighted in orange:
And Wynn Resorts Ltd (Symbol: WYNN) options are showing a volume of 6,900 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 690,000 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 44.2% of WYNN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.6 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $120 strike put option expiring December 19, 2025, with 2,035 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 203,500 underlying shares of WYNN. Below is a chart showing WYNN's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $120 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for TGT options, ETSY options, or WYNN options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Dividend Stocks Crossing Below Their 200 DMA
FEP Average Annual Return
CRAK shares outstanding history
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Monday Option Activity: TGT, ETSY, WYNN

Key Points
There are only 12 investing days left in 2025.
Now is a great time to load up on stocks that may win next year -- and over time.
Soon, it will be countdown time, noting one by one the last minutes of 2025. But today, we can start early, counting down the last 12 investment days until the new year. The stock market will be closed on Dec. 25 for Christmas Day and opens for partial sessions on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. What should you do during this countdown? Consider possible stocks, companies with great long-term prospects, that you might add to your portfolio as the year wraps up.
Whether the bull market continues its rush higher or faces tough times, these players could help you deliver a win over the long run. Here are my 12 top stocks to buy during these 12 days of investing before 2026.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »
1. Apple
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is on track for an 11% gain for the year -- modest, considering the explosive performance of most artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. The company has progressively launched AI across its products and could be in the early days of its AI growth story.
On top of this, Apple has a solid moat, or competitive advantage, thanks to its strong brand -- fans are willing to wait for the latest iPhone update, for example, rather than switching to a rival product. These points, along with a solid services business, could keep revenue climbing.
2. Costco
Costco (NASDAQ: COST) offers investors an opportunity right now as it's trading for 43x forward earnings estimates, down from more than 58x earlier this year. Today's level still isn't dirt cheap, but it's very reasonable for a company with such a strong business model and track record of growth.
The warehouse giant makes most of its profit through membership fees -- and renewal rates are generally high, at more than 90% in the U.S. and Canada. Costco also may thrive in any economic environment due to its low prices on essentials such as food and gas.
3. Carnival
Carnival (NYSE: CCL) (NYSE: CUK) demonstrated that it could make it through tough times and go on to win. The world's biggest cruise operator built up a wall of debt during early pandemic days when cruising halted -- since, though, it's been progressively paying down debt, it's returned to profit, and revenue and bookings have reached record levels.
The company's recovery efforts -- such as operating only fuel-efficient ships -- should support earnings growth moving forward, too. Today, Carnival is a great buy at only 11x forward earnings estimates.
4. Intuitive Surgical
Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) is the global leader in robotic surgery thanks to its Da Vinci platform. Surgeons around the world have trained on the system, and the systems themselves cost hospitals more than $1 million -- these two elements, which don't favor switching to a rival, offer Intuitive Surgical a strong moat.
I also like the fact that the company doesn't only make money through the renting or leasing out of its systems. It actually makes most of its revenue by selling instruments and accessories needed for the surgeries, and importantly, this represents recurrent revenue.
5. Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) is the world's leading player in cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment, and this specialty has brought in blockbuster revenue and led to strong earnings growth. The company's intellectual property should keep it in this top spot through the coming decade.
At the same time, Vertex is growing its position in treatment areas beyond CF, launching a blood disorders treatment and a pain management drug in recent times. The company has plenty of room for growth here, making now a great time to get in on the stock.
6. Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) offers investors an impressive moat, thanks to its brand strength and wide distribution network. This has generated earnings growth over time. The company sells its eponymous drink and other well-known products and has been wise about developing new products to suit local tastes around the world.
You also will like Coca-Cola for its commitment to dividend payments, raising its dividend for more than 50 consecutive years -- that puts it on the Dividend King list and makes it a fantastic choice for passive income.
7. Pool Corp.
Pool Corp. (NASDAQ: POOL) is the world's biggest supplier of pool equipment. Though it may see softness in demand for pool building during tough economic times, it offers pool services that should power it through any economy. After all, pool owners must continue to maintain their pools regardless of economic shifts.
The stock, one that famous investor Warren Buffett reinforced his position in this year, looks like a deal trading for 22x forward earnings estimates -- down from more than 32x earlier in the year.
8. Amazon
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is a leader in e-commerce and cloud computing, and this has helped the company increase earnings over time. This market giant also is benefiting from the high-growth area of AI. Amazon is using AI to gain efficiency in its e-commerce business and offers AI products and services to cloud customers. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has already reported a $132 billion annual revenue run rate thanks to demand for its AI systems.
All of this bodes well for growth moving forward, making now a good moment to get in on the stock.
9. Target
Target's (NYSE: TGT) earnings and stock performance have been in the doldrums as the company has struggled with challenges, such as the consumer buying more essentials and fewer higher-margin items.
But 2026 could represent a year of recovery for Target. The company has recognized its weak points and even is shifting to a new chief executive officer early in the year. So, today's level -- with the stock trading for 13x forward earnings estimates -- may represent a once-in-a-lifetime buying opportunity.
10. CRISPR Therapeutics
CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) won approval for a blood disorder treatment, Casgevy, with partner Vertex that I mentioned above, and 2026 may be a key moment for that product. Vertex says it expects "significant growth" from Casgevy in the coming year.
This, along with potential updates from CRISPR Therapeutics' clinical trials, could represent catalysts for the stock. The approval of Casgevy, based on the gene editing used throughout the pipeline, demonstrates the strength of CRISPR Therapeutics' technology and may be just the beginning of growth for the company.
11. Broadcom
Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a networking giant and has emerged as a potential AI chip winner, too. The company makes custom chips, designed for specific uses, while AI chip giant Nvidia makes more of a general-purpose system. I don't see Broadcom upsetting Nvidia's leadership, but I do see enough demand in the market to generate plenty of growth for both players.
Broadcom has spoken of high demand and continues to sign on more AI business, and this is against a general backdrop of AI growth. So Broadcom could make a great AI bet for the new year.
12. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
I like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) because, as a producer of chips for Nvidia and a variety of companies, this company can score multiple wins during the AI boom. It benefits as each of these chip designers gains new orders -- it isn't linked to the success of only one. That makes TSMC a no-brainer buy for investors looking for a long-term AI success story.
TSMC also is investing heavily in U.S. manufacturing, and the company should benefit greatly during this stage of the AI boom -- as cloud companies spend potentially trillions on infrastructure. All this makes TSMC a top AI stock to buy during the final 12 days of investing in 2025.
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Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon, Target, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, CRISPR Therapeutics, Costco Wholesale, Intuitive Surgical, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Target, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and Carnival Corp. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

12 Days of Investing: My Top 12 Stocks to Buy Before 2026

Key Points
Dividend stocks may boost your portfolio during any market environment.
These particular companies have shown their commitment to dividend payments and growth over time.
When the market is roaring higher as it's been doing over the past three years, it's easy to forget about the importance of passive income. You may be more focused on the fantastic gains delivered by certain growth stocks that don't pay dividends -- and, don't get me wrong, these sorts of players are great to have in a portfolio.
But here's why it's also a good idea to add a few dividend players to the mix. First, who doesn't like extra cash? Whether the market is rising or falling, you'll collect these payments without lifting a finger -- the only thing you have to do is own a dividend-paying stock. Second, these payments may add to your gains during good times and limit your losses during bad times. And over the long haul, they could help you along on the path to wealth.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Which stocks to buy? Dividend Kings make a wise choice since they've increased their dividend payments for at least 50 straight years. This shows their commitment to a dividend strategy and their ability to make these payments over time. With this in mind, get ready to start the new year off with passive income: Here are three Dividend Kings to buy now.
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1. Coca-Cola
You probably know Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) best for its eponymous beverage, but the company actually sells 200 brands covering a variety of beverage types -- from sparkling drinks to water. As the world's biggest non-alcoholic beverage company, and in existence for more than 130 years, it's had the time to build up a significant brand moat -- fans generally want a Coca-Cola and won't go for another cola drink -- and earnings track record.
So, when you buy Coca-Cola shares, you're getting in on a solid company. This player also is a dividend giant, having increased its payments for more than 60 years. Today, Coca-Cola pays a dividend of $2.04, representing a dividend yield of 2.9%. This surpasses the dividend yield of the S&P 500. All of this makes Coca-Cola a no-brainer addition to any dividend portfolio.
2. Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is a healthcare giant operating in four different specialty areas: medical devices, nutrition, diagnostics, and established pharmaceuticals. I like this business model because it offers investors some safety -- if one sector faces a challenge, the others may continue to perform and limit negative impact on earnings.
Like Coca-Cola, Abbott has delivered earnings growth over time, and the company is a leader in areas such as diabetes management and nutrition drinks.
In addition to this, Abbott also has scored a spot on the Dividend Kings list by increasing its dividend for the past 53 years. Abbott pays a dividend of $2.36 per share, at a yield of 1.9% -- and like Coca-Cola, Abbott's dividend yield is higher than that of the S&P 500.
Abbott, as a healthcare company, offers investors a certain level of security -- patients need their treatments in any environment -- as well as passive income they can count on.
3. Target
Target (NYSE: TGT) has been a difficult stock to own in recent years -- I know this firsthand -- as the company has faced various challenges. But the retailer has been addressing problem areas and even is transitioning to a new chief executive officer to guide it through recovery -- current chief operating officer Michael Fiddelke will take the role early next year.
The company's portfolio of billion-dollar owned-brands and its evolving in-store fulfillment network are two major strengths that may support growth moving forward. So, today, trading for 12x forward earnings estimates, Target looks like a bargain recovery story buy.
On top of that, Target has lifted its dividend payments for 54 years and now pays shareholders $4.56 per share, at a yield of 4.9%.
So, ahead of the new year, Target makes a great recovery story buy at today's valuation -- and one that is well-positioned to reward you with passive income growth.
Should you invest $1,000 in Coca-Cola right now?
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Adria Cimino has positions in Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Abbott Laboratories and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Start the New Year Off With Passive Income: 3 Dividend Kings to Buy Now

(RTTNews) - Big retail and tech companies are rolling out new AI tools for the holiday shopping season. They hope the technology will make gift buying easier for customers and help boost their online sales.
These tools add to the AI features already offered by platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google Gemini. One of the most talked-about updates this season is Google's new AI agent, which can call stores on your behalf to check whether an item is in stock.
OpenAI added a new shopping tool in ChatGPT that compares prices, reviews and availability to create personalized buying guides. Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT) are among the first big retailers to use ChatGPT as a shopping platform.
Additionally, Target introduced AI features like Gift Finder, List-to-Cart Scanning, improved in-store navigation and even a "Find Bullseye" game. Walmart released new AI tools to help shoppers discover deals, locate items and move through stores more easily.
Meanwhile, Amazon (AMZN) launched Help Me Decide, an AI tool that recommends the best product based on your browsing and purchase history and tells you why it's a good fit.
Google added new AI upgrades across Search and Shopping, including virtual try-ons and automatic price tracking. Meta (META) is using its AI assistant in Instagram and Facebook ads to match people with products instantly. All these tools are designed to make holiday shopping faster, smarter and more personalized.
However, experts say AI's overall impact on holiday shopping will still be limited this year, mainly because many retailers don't yet offer advanced tools and many shoppers aren't ready to use them.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Holiday Shopping Gets Smarter With Innovative AI Tools

Investors in Target Corp (Symbol: TGT) saw new options begin trading today, for the February 2026 expiration. One of the key inputs that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 70 days until expiration the newly trading contracts represent a potential opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the TGT options chain for the new February 2026 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
The put contract at the $95.00 strike price has a current bid of $3.50. If an investor was to sell-to-open that put contract, they are committing to purchase the stock at $95.00, but will also collect the premium, putting the cost basis of the shares at $91.50 (before broker commissions). To an investor already interested in purchasing shares of TGT, that could represent an attractive alternative to paying $97.68/share today.
Because the $95.00 strike represents an approximate 3% discount to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the put contract would expire worthless. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 60%. Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change, publishing a chart of those numbers on our website under the contract detail page for this contract. Should the contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 3.68% return on the cash commitment, or 19.21% annualized — at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost.
Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Target Corp, and highlighting in green where the $95.00 strike is located relative to that history:
Turning to the calls side of the option chain, the call contract at the $100.00 strike price has a current bid of $4.45. If an investor was to purchase shares of TGT stock at the current price level of $97.68/share, and then sell-to-open that call contract as a "covered call," they are committing to sell the stock at $100.00. Considering the call seller will also collect the premium, that would drive a total return (excluding dividends, if any) of 6.93% if the stock gets called away at the February 2026 expiration (before broker commissions). Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if TGT shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Target Corp, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing TGT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $100.00 strike highlighted in red:
Considering the fact that the $100.00 strike represents an approximate 2% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 53%. On our website under the contract detail page for this contract, Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change and publish a chart of those numbers (the trading history of the option contract will also be charted). Should the covered call contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 4.56% boost of extra return to the investor, or 23.75% annualized, which we refer to as the YieldBoost.
The implied volatility in the put contract example is 35%, while the implied volatility in the call contract example is 37%.
Meanwhile, we calculate the actual trailing twelve month volatility (considering the last 250 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $97.68) to be 34%. For more put and call options contract ideas worth looking at, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

TGT February 2026 Options Begin Trading

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – December 12, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Walmart, Inc. WMT, Target Corp. TGT, The Kroger Co. KR and Costco Wholesale Corp. COST.
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Walmart Stock Up +25% in 2025; What's the Smart Move for 2026?
Walmart, Inc. has been a strong outperformer in 2025, with shares advancing 25.3% year to date. The rally underscores investor confidence in Walmart’s consistent execution, rapid omnichannel expansion and continued share gains across household income segments, even in a choppy consumer environment.
These upsides have helped the world’s largest retailer to outperform the industry’s growth of 24.6%, the Zacks Retail – Wholesale sector’s increase of 6.7% and the S&P 500’s gain of 18.6% so far this year. Walmart shares have also fared better than major peers like Target Corp., The Kroger Co. and Costco Wholesale Corp. While Kroger inched up 0.1%, Costco and Target declined 4.4% and 30%, respectively, year to date.
What’s Driving Walmart Stock Higher?
Walmart’s steady rally this year is backed by a healthy set of fundamentals. The retailer continues to post broad-based sales and profit growth, with its third-quarter fiscal 2026 performance reflecting strength across Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club and International.
The company’s e-commerce momentum remains exceptional, growing 27% in the third quarter, with U.S. e-commerce up 28% and International up 26%. Faster delivery (35% of U.S. store-fulfilled orders were delivered in under three hours), combined with improved marketplace growth and expanding digital capabilities, has helped Walmart deepen customer engagement.
Walmart’s omnichannel ecosystem is growing, benefiting from strong grocery traffic, improving trends in general merchandise and notable strength in fashion. Membership income also remains a highlight across both Sam’s Club and Walmart+, with newer benefits like OnePay and improved delivery speed driving record net adds. International operations continue to provide a meaningful growth lift, led by strong results from Flipkart, China and Walmex.
Walmart’s business mix is shifting toward higher-margin streams, including advertising, membership and improved e-commerce unit economics, now representing about one-third of consolidated adjusted operating income. Early investments in automation and AI are also helping the company expand fulfillment efficiency and support margin performance.
WMT: Near-Term Hurdles to Watch
Even with strong fundamentals, a few challenges linger. Merchandise mix remains a drag, as growth leans toward lower-margin food and health & wellness categories. Tariffs continue to create cost pressure, particularly in Walmart U.S. inventory. Flipkart’s Big Billion Days timing shift and ongoing price investments in Mexico also weighed on the International segment’s margins.
Apart from this, the new maximum fair pricing legislation set to take effect in early 2026 is expected to affect Walmart’s pharmacy business. While Walmart is managing costs well, the company is still operating in a consumer environment marked by moderation in discretionary spending, which could limit upside in key general merchandise categories.
Is Walmart’s Valuation Stretched?
Walmart’s forward 12-month P/E of 39.13X stands above the industry average of 35.61X. Its Value Score of C suggests only limited room for further multiple expansion in the near term. Compared with peers, Walmart sits at the higher end of the valuation range — Target and Kroger trade at significantly lower multiples of 12.34 and 11.75, respectively, while Costco commands a premium at 42.69.
Although Walmart’s elevated valuation is supported by consistent execution and growing contributions from higher-margin businesses, it also leaves the stock more sensitive to any moderation in consumer spending or a slowdown in key profit drivers.
How Are WMT’s Estimates Trending?
Analysts’ earnings estimates for Walmart have moved higher, suggesting that they see current challenges as temporary and expect the company to sustain strong growth in the long run. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS has risen over the past 30 days.
WMT: In a Nutshell
Walmart enters 2026 with solid momentum in key growth engines — e-commerce, membership, marketplace and advertising — all supported by faster delivery, sharper inventory management and expanding automation. The company’s scale advantages and strengthening digital capabilities position it well to keep gaining share. However, margin pressures from mix, tariffs, pharmacy headwinds and ongoing cost inflation may continue to weigh on quarterly performance.
Given the stock’s elevated valuation, investors may find it more prudent to maintain positions rather than chase new ones at current levels. Nonetheless, Walmart’s durable business model, improving profit streams and long-term investment initiatives make it a compelling hold heading into 2026. Walmart currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Our experts have revealed their Top 5 recommendations with money-doubling potential – and Director of Research Sheraz Mian believes one is superior to the others. Of course, all our picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier recommendations like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
See Our Top Stock to Double (Plus 4 Runners Up) >>
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Walmart, Target, Kroger and Costco

Rule-Breaking Stocks for Your Holiday Shopping List

Walmart, Inc. WMT has been a strong outperformer in 2025, with shares advancing 25.3% year to date. The rally underscores investor confidence in Walmart’s consistent execution, rapid omnichannel expansion and continued share gains across household income segments, even in a choppy consumer environment.
These upsides have helped the world’s largest retailer to outperform the industry’s growth of 24.6%, the Zacks Retail – Wholesale sector’s increase of 6.7% and the S&P 500’s gain of 18.6% so far this year. Walmart shares have also fared better than major peers like Target Corporation TGT, The Kroger Co. KR and Costco Wholesale Corporation COST. While Kroger inched up 0.1%, Costco and Target declined 4.4% and 30%, respectively, year to date.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What’s Driving Walmart Stock Higher?
Walmart’s steady rally this year is backed by a healthy set of fundamentals. The retailer continues to post broad-based sales and profit growth, with its third-quarter fiscal 2026 performance reflecting strength across Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club and International.
The company’s e-commerce momentum remains exceptional, growing 27% in the third quarter, with U.S. e-commerce up 28% and International up 26%. Faster delivery (35% of U.S. store-fulfilled orders were delivered in under three hours), combined with improved marketplace growth and expanding digital capabilities, has helped Walmart deepen customer engagement.
Walmart’s omnichannel ecosystem is growing, benefiting from strong grocery traffic, improving trends in general merchandise and notable strength in fashion. Membership income also remains a highlight across both Sam’s Club and Walmart+, with newer benefits like OnePay and improved delivery speed driving record net adds. International operations continue to provide a meaningful growth lift, led by strong results from Flipkart, China and Walmex.
Walmart’s business mix is shifting toward higher-margin streams, including advertising, membership and improved e-commerce unit economics, now representing about one-third of consolidated adjusted operating income. Early investments in automation and AI are also helping the company expand fulfillment efficiency and support margin performance.
WMT: Near-Term Hurdles to Watch
Even with strong fundamentals, a few challenges linger. Merchandise mix remains a drag, as growth leans toward lower-margin food and health & wellness categories. Tariffs continue to create cost pressure, particularly in Walmart U.S. inventory. Flipkart’s Big Billion Days timing shift and ongoing price investments in Mexico also weighed on the International segment’s margins.
Apart from this, the new maximum fair pricing legislation set to take effect in early 2026 is expected to affect Walmart’s pharmacy business. While Walmart is managing costs well, the company is still operating in a consumer environment marked by moderation in discretionary spending, which could limit upside in key general merchandise categories.
Is Walmart’s Valuation Stretched?
Walmart’s forward 12-month P/E of 39.13X stands above the industry average of 35.61X. Its Value Score of C suggests only limited room for further multiple expansion in the near term. Compared with peers, Walmart sits at the higher end of the valuation range — Target and Kroger trade at significantly lower multiples of 12.34 and 11.75, respectively, while Costco commands a premium at 42.69.
Although Walmart’s elevated valuation is supported by consistent execution and growing contributions from higher-margin businesses, it also leaves the stock more sensitive to any moderation in consumer spending or a slowdown in key profit drivers.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Are WMT’s Estimates Trending?
Analysts’ earnings estimates for Walmart have moved higher, suggesting that they see current challenges as temporary and expect the company to sustain strong growth in the long run. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS has risen over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
WMT: In a Nutshell
Walmart enters 2026 with solid momentum in key growth engines — e-commerce, membership, marketplace and advertising — all supported by faster delivery, sharper inventory management and expanding automation. The company’s scale advantages and strengthening digital capabilities position it well to keep gaining share. However, margin pressures from mix, tariffs, pharmacy headwinds and ongoing cost inflation may continue to weigh on quarterly performance.
Given the stock’s elevated valuation, investors may find it more prudent to maintain positions rather than chase new ones at current levels. Nonetheless, Walmart’s durable business model, improving profit streams and long-term investment initiatives make it a compelling hold heading into 2026. Walmart currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Walmart Stock Up 25% in 2025: What's the Smart Move for 2026?

(RTTNews) - Target Corporation (TGT) on Thursday outlined its holiday shopping support features, highlighting extended hours, fast fulfillment options, exclusive gift items, and digital tools for last-minute shoppers.
Target stores will operate from 7 a.m. to midnight through December 23 and until 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Customers can place Drive Up and Order Pickup orders until 6 p.m. on December 24 and collect them by 8 p.m. Same-day delivery through the Target Circle 360 membership program is available with no markups for orders placed by 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Next-day delivery is also offered in 35 metro areas.
The retailer announced several exclusive holiday gift options, including Caitlin Clark trading cards, Tiny Vinyl records, the Barbie x Joanna Gaines collection, and a limited-edition Dr. Squatch "Not Santa" soap. From December 21-24, Target's Holiday Countdown Sale will offer deals such as up to 50% off select toys and sporting goods, up to 40% off tech items, a $10 gift card with a $40 beauty or health purchase, and discounts on adult sweaters and denim. Target Circle members will receive additional exclusive promotions.
Target also highlighted several digital tools designed to make shopping easier, including the Target experience in ChatGPT for quick gift suggestions, the Target Gift Finder for personalized recommendations, a List Scanner that converts handwritten lists into shoppable items, and Store Mode in the Target app to help customers find products inside stores.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Target Rolls Out Extended Hours, Delivery Options And Deals For Last-Minute Holiday Shoppers

Target (NYSE: TGT) is under new leadership, and investors are hoping that will be enough to deliver better results next year.
*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Dec. 7, 2025. The video was published on Dec. 9, 2025.
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Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Target Corporation

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