Apparel & Footwear

Crocs Shares Fall on Soft Second Quarter Outlook

Shares of Crocs Inc. slipped 2.1 percent in pre-market trading after the clog maker posted a first-quarter earnings report that was better than expected and raised full-year guidance. Still, Crocs shares slipped 4.1 percent to $96.00. Investors didn’t like the guidance the company provided for its second-quarter outlook. Net income for the first quarter ended March 31 was down 14.1 percent to $137.6 million, or $2.71 a diluted share, from $160.1 million, or $2.83, in the same year-ago quarter. On an adjusted basis, diluted earnings per share were $2.99. Revenues slipped 1.7 percent to $921.5 million from $937.3 million.

Columbia Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, International Strength Continues

Columbia Sportswear Company reported first-quarter 2026 results, with the top line remaining relatively flat compared with the prior year and the bottom line decreasing year-over-year. However, both revenues and earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The designer, marketer, and distributor of outdoor and active lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories reported earnings of 65 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents. However, the bottom line decreased by 13.3% to 75 cents, down from the prior-year period. The company generated net sales of $779 million.

Carter’s brings on Build-A-Bear vet as CEO

Kids apparel retailer Carter’s named Sharon Price John as the company’s chief executive officer and president, effective June 15, according to a press release. She will also serve as a member of the board of directors. Former CEO Douglas Palladini has left the company as its CEO and as a member of the board of directors. The company named Richard Westenberger, its CFO and COO, to also serve as interim chief executive officer and president until John joins the company. John was most recently the CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Athletic & Sporting Goods

Pure Hockey exceeds 100 locations with latest acquisition

Pure Hockey is expanding its footprint in the Midwest.  The Boston-based hockey equipment, apparel and accessories chain has acquired Perani’s Hockey World, a long-standing Flint, Mich.-based retailer with 22 locations across the Midwest and surrounding regions. The stores will be rebranded as Pure Hockey, bringing the company’s total retail footprint to more than 110 locations across 32 states between its Pure Hockey and Pure Goalie brands.

Zwift acquires fellow indoor platform Rouvy

Zwift purchased real routes online platform Rouvy in an acquisition labeled as a strategic cooperation in which each will maintain independent operations. Both platforms will feature different roadmaps and subscription packages. Zwift also announced that its Zwift Ready smart trainers and Zwift Ride smart frames now will work with Rouvy. Further updates are planned over the coming months.  Rouvy’s platform features thousands of real roads and partnerships with organizations including IRONMAN, Life Time Grand Prix, Lidl-Trek and Visma | Lease a Bike. It also features real-world training, from structured workouts to race routes. While also featuring training options, Zwift leans more into gaming technology and online racing opportunities in backdrops like London, New York, Paris, and its own Watopia.

Cosmetics & Pharmacy

Fundamental Brands to Acquire $31M Fragrance License Holder For Ellen Tracy, Mustang and More

Fundamental Brands is acquiring Great American Beauty, the fragrance licensee for brands including Ellen Tracy, IZOD, Ford Mustang, and Caribbean Joe, in a deal that adds approximately $31 million in sales to its portfolio. Together with Great American Beauty’s licensing subsidiary Palm Beach Beauté, the acquisition pairs a legacy fragrance licensing and distribution business with a newer holding company betting it can spark growth through e-commerce, omnichannel marketing, and faster domestic manufacturing. It follows Fundamental Brands’ acquisitions of skincare brand Amala and Black haircare brand and manufacturer Lucky Heart as it broadens its beauty platform across categories and channels. Great American Beauty is the exclusive distributor in the United States for Disney fragrances and the exclusive U.S. retail distributor for Dubai-based Lattafa, one of the hottest fragrance brands on social media, as Middle Eastern fragrances gain momentum globally.

Maesa Announces Sale of Anomaly, the Haircare Brand Founded with Priyanka Chopra Jonas, to Reliance Retail

Maesa announced the sale of Anomaly, the clean, vegan, high-performance haircare brand founded with Priyanka Chopra Jonas, to Reliance Retail, a leading global retailer. The transaction includes the transfer of Anomaly’s trademarks, brand assets, and digital properties, positioning the brand for its next phase of growth. Launched in 2021 in partnership with Maesa, Anomaly rapidly built an international presence. Following the completion of its initial U.S. retail run, the brand shifted its focus to global expansion, gaining strong traction in key markets including India. Anomaly exited U.S. retail at the end of 2025 to prioritize these international growth opportunities. The sale reflects Maesa’s strategic focus on brands anchored in the U.S. market, as the company continues to build and scale brands in high‑growth, high‑engagement categories, including hair care, fragrance, skin care, and personal care.

L’Occitane Group appoints Jordan Saxemard as CEO of Sol de Janeiro

L’Occitane Group has appointed Jordan Saxemard as Chief Executive Officer of Sol de Janeiro, marking a leadership transition at the brand. Saxemard, previously Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at Sol de Janeiro, succeeds co-founder Heela Yang, who has exited the company. With over two decades of experience in brand building and digital transformation, Saxemard has already played a key role in the brand’s growth. The Group highlighted his expertise in scaling brands, driving operational discipline, and executing strategic priorities. L’Occitane Group stated the move ensures leadership continuity as Sol de Janeiro enters its next phase of global expansion.

Discounters & Department Stores

Walmart’s annual report shows e-commerce boom

Walmart Inc. has released its first annual report under the leadership of John Furner, who took the reins as president and CEO in February. The 2026 report illustrates the retail giant’s growing momentum in e-commerce. Walmart notched revenue growth of 5.1% in constant currency and profit growth of 5.4% on an adjusted basis for the year ended Jan. 31, 2026 (fiscal year 2026), driven by 24% global growth in e-commerce. E-commerce sales totaled $150.4 billion and positively contributed 4.3% to the year’s comparable sales. That marks an increase from the 2.9% contribution to comps in fiscal 2025. Walmart reported that its Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club U.S., and Walmart International segments contributed to top-line expansion in FY2026.

Saks Global slashes 16% of its corporate workforce

On April 30th, Saks Global confirmed another round of workforce cuts as it wraps up its bankruptcy. The reduction affects 16% of its corporate teams, which is overall less than 4% of its total headcount, according to sources familiar with the matter. Stores and distribution centers are not affected. However, Saks Global is in the midst of a Chapter 11 process, begun in the new year, that does entail shuttering several locations. The company has effectively walked away from off-price, with plans to keep only about a dozen stores open to unload excess inventory. In the full-line fleet, more than 20 stores are slated to close, most of them Saks Fifth Avenue locations.

Emerging Consumer Companies

Neutonic Raises $6m at $60m Valuation to Accelerate Global Expansion Across Retail and New Markets

Functional drinks and supplements brand Neutonic has raised $6 million at a $60 million valuation, as it accelerates global expansion across the UK, US, and new international markets. The round includes backing from Alan Barrett, alongside investors including Ollie Marchon and Ross Edgley in the UK, and Dan Martell, Codie Sanchez, and Zach Ranen in the US. Gym King founder Jay Parker also joins the company as a special advisor. The round is further supported by a broader group of operators and early-stage backers, with existing investors increasing their positions, reflecting continued confidence in Neutonic’s growth trajectory. Neutonic was founded in 2023 by Chris Williamson, host of the globally ranked Modern Wisdom podcast (currently ranked No.7 worldwide, with over one billion downloads), and James Smith, one of the UK’s most recognized fitness entrepreneurs, alongside Luke Betts and Shan Hanif.

Men’s Fertility Supplement Brand TIES Launches with $1.5M in Seed Funding

TIES, a men’s fertility and performance supplement brand, has launched alongside a $1.5 million seed round led by HumanCo, the mission-driven health and wellness holding company founded by Jason H. Karp, who joins the TIES board. The brand launches with Foundations, a doctor-formulated preconception supplement developed with five physicians and specialists in reproductive medicine, integrative health, and preconception nutrition. The formula targets antioxidant defense, sperm and reproductive health, and hormone function through ingredients including CoQ10, L-Carnitine, zinc, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and methylated folate.

Williams-Sonoma relaunches Dormify a year after acquiring IP

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is officially relaunching dorm-room furnishings company Dormify after acquiring its intellectual property in May, 2025. A new Dormify website is now up and running, complete with functions like a dorm wishlist and a 3D bed visualizer. Students can also buy items like rugs, headboards and fridges online, then pick them up from one of Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s other stores, like Pottery Barn and West Elm. The relaunch also introduces new items, like the GellyRoll Mattress Topper ($149-$199). This isn’t Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s first go-around with the dorm space. The company already sells items like pillows, bath towels and floor lamps through Pottery Barn Dorm, while PBteen offers college bedding collections with Roller Rabbit and LoveShackFancy.

Chance Studios raises $3.2 million to build super app for trading card collectors

Chance Studios has raised $3.2 million in funding co-led by Makers Fund and Hashed, with participation from Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, Gam3Girl Ventures, and Digital Elm, to build what it describes as a super app purpose-built for trading card game collectors. The TCG market has grown into a multi-billion-dollar category, but Chance’s founders argue that the biggest unmet need for collectors is not authenticity, liquidity, or a fragmented buying experience — it’s finding enjoyment and community after the point of purchase. Chance is designed to be the first platform built by TCG natives for TCG collectors, combining instant liquidity, transparent transactions, and a vibrant social layer in a single integrated experience.

Food & Beverage

Sazerac nabs minority stake in Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila

Sazerac made a minority investment in 818 Tequila, the beverage brand founded by Kendall Jenner, making the Fireball owner the exclusive U.S. sales and distributor for the tequila brand. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. The deal will accelerate 818’s reach across the U.S., giving it better shelf visibility and access to new formats ranging from 50 mL to 1 L bottles, Kathleen Braine, 818’s chief marketing officer, wrote in an email. The partnership with 818 diversifies Sazerac’s tequila offerings, which the company called a “bright spot in spirits.” Its portfolio also includes Corazón and Margaritaville.

Nestlé confirms sale of Blue Bottle Coffee to Centurium Capital

Nestlé has agreed to sell its Blue Bottle Coffee business to private equity firm Centurium Capital, signaling the latest step in the food giant’s ongoing portfolio reshaping. Late last year, Nestlé reportedly announced it was exploring the sale of Blue Bottle Coffee as part of a broader strategic review initiated by new CEO Philipp Navratil. In March, it was reported that Centurium Capital Partners was in advanced talks to acquire Nestlé’s Blue Bottle Coffee. The deal, announced as part of Nestlé’s first-quarter results, is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed. The divestment signals a shift in Nestlé’s strategy, as the company has been actively reviewing its portfolio to focus on higher-growth, scalable categories.

SK Capital Completes Acquisition of Brothers International

SK Capital Partners has completed the acquisition of Brothers International Food Holdings from Benford Capital Partners (BCP), taking a controlling stake in the company in partnership with founder Travis Betters, who will remain president and chief executive officer and retain significant ownership. Brothers International is a supplier of natural fruit ingredients and products for the food and beverage industry, focusing on tropical and exotic fruit concentrates and purees sourced globally from more than 30 countries. The company also provides a range of services, including product development, logistics coordination, and quality assurance.

Grocery & Restaurants

Starbucks’ sales improve in a ‘milestone’ quarter

Customers apparently like better service. That is the apparent lesson from Starbucks’ fiscal second quarter earnings, in which the Seattle-based coffee-shop giant announced its best sales results—and first earnings growth—in more than two years, amid service improvements inside the shops. Same-store sales in the U.S. rose 7.1% in the quarter ended March 29, the highest since the fall quarter of 2023. Transactions rose 4.3% in the period, meaning customers came in more often and typically spent more when they did. Globally, same-store sales increased 6.2%. The company said that all 10 of its largest international markets generated positive same-store sales for the first time in nine quarters. In the process, the company also reported earnings improvement.

Chipotle swings positive after a tough 2025

Chipotle’s stock price rallied by nearly 5% in after-hours trading Wednesday following a better-than-expected first quarter earnings report that included the chain’s first positive same-store sales metric in over a year, at 0.5%. Transactions were also positive at 0.6%. Total revenue was $3.1 billion, marking a nearly 7% increase year-over-year. “Our first quarter performance exceeded expectations, and we are encouraged by the early momentum we are seeing in our recipe for growth and positioning,” CEO Scott Boatwright said during the call. Though Chipotle was hindered by inflationary pressures, which pulled restaurant-level margins down 250 basis points year-over-year to 23.7%, the company found momentum from its High Protein Menu, launched in December, the return of its Chicken al Pastor, and the introduction of Cilantro Lime Sauce in March. During Q1, nearly one-fourth of all transactions included an add-on protein, illustrating that the chain has become a destination among the increasing number of consumers seeking out the nutrient.

Home & Road

Bed Bath & Beyond’s Lemonis Eyes Big Store Productivity Gains From Container Store Reset

Bed Bath & Beyond posted a first-quarter revenue gain, beat a Wall Street estimate and discussed how its acquisition of The Container Store is affecting its plans to reintroduce the Bed Bath & Beyond banner in physical retail. As part of a letter to shareholders released concurrently with the financial results, Marcus Lemonis, Bed Bath & Beyond executive chairman and CEO, said the recently completed first quarter was the first such period in 19 during which the company returned to year-over-year revenue growth.

Lemonis added Bed Bath & Beyond achieved improved performance while “operating with the lowest cost structure the business has had in over 12 years. This is not growth driven by incremental spending. It is growth building on top of a fundamentally reset operating model.”

Purple Innovation, Inc. Announces Results for First Quarter

Purple Innovation, Inc., a comfort innovation company whose mattresses promise to give you “less pain, better sleep,” announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. First quarter 2026 net revenue was $95.7 million, down approximately 8.1% compared to the first quarter of 2025. The decrease was primarily driven by softness in e-commerce and lower wholesale revenue, partially offset by growth in showrooms. During the first quarter of 2026, total amounts billed were approximately $100.6 million, down 3.4% year over year; however, as a result of required net reporting related to certain wholesale transactions, reported revenue was reduced by $4.9 million to $95.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $(4.8) million, flat from this time last year.

Triple-whammy dings Ethan Allens’ Q3 sales

Ethan Allen Interiors hit a few bumps in the road during the third quarter that put in dent in revenues and profit. Farooq Kathwari, Ethan Allen‘s chairman, president and CEO, pointed to a trio of challenges that depressed top-line growth: reduction in business with the U.S. State Department, lower international sales and sluggish demand from a challenging environment for home furnishings, which included weather disruptions and macroeconomic uncertainty. For the quarter ended March 31, consolidated net sales declined 4.8% to $135.8 million vs. $142.7 million in the prior year quarter. Retail net sales slipped 1.2% to $116.2 million, while wholesale net sales dropped 14.2% to $84.9 million.

Jewelry & Luxury

SMCP Q1 sales dip amid BHV exit, Saks closures & France challenges

SMCP reported a slight decline in first-quarter sales as disruption among wholesale partners, including department stores such as BHV in France and Saks in the U.S., weighed on performance, offsetting growth in other regions. The Paris-based group, which owns Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and Fursac, posted revenue of 287 million euros in the three months to March, down 0.8 percent on an organic basis year-over-year. The decline was driven by a 13 percent drop in France to 89 million euros, where the company has been grappling with a weak consumer environment and the fallout from its exit from locations operated by Société des Grands Magasins, owner of BHV.

Lanvin Group faces €263M loss amid strategic reset in 2025

Even with established brands and a deep-pocketed backer, building a fashion group is not for the faint of heart. Or the impatient. Lanvin Group has proved that once again — it accumulated net losses of 263 million euros last year, while revenues fell 18 percent to 240 million euros. There were some signs of improvement at the parent company of Lanvin, Wolford, Sergio Rossi, and St. John. Adjusted losses before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization narrowed by 4 million euros to 90 million euros, reflecting a strategic reset that had the company closing 51 stores last year. But it’s been pretty tough going. Altogether, the group has accumulated losses of 976 million euros, 95 percent of which has piled up over five years.

Ermenegildo Zegna Group Reports a Solid Start to the Year

Ermenegildo Zegna announced unaudited revenues of €470.2 million for the first quarter of 2026, +2.5% YoY and +7.4% organic from €458.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. Ermenegildo “Gildo” Zegna, Executive Chairman of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, commented: “We entered 2026 with growing momentum across all our brands. The Group’s 7% organic growth is a direct result of our long-term strategy, thoughtfully crafted and now being executed with discipline and pace. Our retail-first organization continues to progress, as reflected in 14% organic growth in the Direct-to-Consumer channel, with all brands and markets contributing. The Americas stood out once again, delivering another quarter of double-digit organic growth and continued acceleration. ZEGNA led the Group’s performance, reporting 11% organic growth. Thom Browne and TOM FORD FASHION strengthened their distinctive positions and attracted new audiences…”

Office & Leisure

Saudi Arabia’s PIF to end funding of LIV Golf league after this season

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will end funding of the LIV Golf league after the 2026 season, two people familiar with the matter told CNBC’s Sara Eisen, leaving the controversial golf venture in limbo.  The league, founded in 2021, was positioned as a rival to the PGA Tour and drew high-profile athletes. In 2023, it agreed to merge with the PGA Tour, but that deal has yet to come to fruition.  A committee of independent directors will evaluate strategic alternatives for the league after PIF pulls its funding, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.

Purposeful Golf Acquires Woodington Lake Golf Club

Purposeful Golf announced the acquisition of Woodington Lake Golf Club, a 36-hole golf and event destination in Tottenham, Ontario. The acquisition marks another step in the company’s strategy to build a curated portfolio of high-quality golf properties across Ontario.  Purposeful Golf is led by an ownership team focused on long-term stewardship and sustainable growth. The portfolio includes Manitou Ridge, National Pines, and now Woodington Lake.  Woodington Lake features two championship courses, a renovated event space, and strong demand for daily fee golf, charity tournaments, weddings, banquets, and corporate events. Its scale and proximity to the Greater Toronto Area make it a strategic addition to the portfolio.

Technology & Internet

Apple guidance tops estimates on booming iPhone, Mac demand

Apple issued a better-than-expected revenue forecast for the current period after beating on sales and earnings in the fiscal second quarter. The stock rose about 3% in extended trading. Sales for iPhones missed estimates for the second time in three quarters, the only significant number that came up short of expectations in Thursday’s report. Revenue climbed 17% from $95.4 billion a year earlier, Apple said. It was the first time the company faced Wall Street since the announcement last week that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO after 15 years on the job. Apple said on the earnings call that revenue in the June quarter will increase between 14% and 17% from a year earlier. Analysts were expecting growth of 9.5% to $103 billion, according to LSEG. Sales of iPhones rose 22% in the quarter from a year earlier. Like other consumer electronics companies and device makers, Apple faces supply chain constraints, largely due to the global memory shortage that’s being driven by soaring artificial intelligence demand. Cook said on the earnings call that the iPhone 17 is now the “most popular lineup in our history” and noted that overall revenue beat guidance “despite supply constraints.”

Amazon earnings beat expectations with strong cloud growth

Amazon on Wednesday posted better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the first quarter, and reported cloud sales that topped analysts’ expectations. Revenue in its online stores segment, which still accounts for the largest share of Amazon’s total sales, grew 12% in the first quarter to $64.3 billion, higher than analysts’ estimated $62.7 billion. Alongside its earnings release, the company announced this year’s Prime Day discount bonanza will be held in June, a month earlier than its typical time frame. Advertising revenue jumped 24% year over year to $17.24 billion, above Wall Street’s expectations for growth of 21.2%. The unit is one of the company’s fastest growing and more profitable businesses, with the lion’s share of revenue coming from sponsored products listings on its e-commerce site.

Finance & Economy

Fed holds rates steady but with the highest level of dissent since 1992

On April 29, an unusually divided Federal Reserve held its key interest rate steady as policymakers grappled with the policy impact of persistent inflation and awaited a looming leadership transition at the central bank. In what may have been Chair Jerome Powell’s final meeting at the helm, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee voted to hold the benchmark funds rate in a range between 3.5%-3.75%. Markets had been pricing in a 100% chance of no change. However, the meeting saw a dramatic turn amid a groundswell of officials who opposed messaging that further rate cuts could be ahead. Amid expectations of a routine vote to hold the benchmark funds rate steady, the FOMC was instead split 8-4, with officials citing different reasons for their votes. The last time four FOMC members dissented was in October 1992.

Core inflation rate hit 3.2% in March as first-quarter growth disappointed at 2%

The core PCE price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, accelerated a seasonally adjusted 0.3% for the month, pushing the 12-month inflation rate to 3.2%. Headline prices rose 0.7%, putting the annual level at 3.5%. All of the readings were in line with the consensus. Gross domestic product grew at a 2% seasonally adjusted annualized pace in the first quarter, up from 0.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025 but lower than the 2.2% estimate. Initial jobless claims totaled a seasonally adjusted 189,000 for the week ended April 25, the lowest since 1969.