Goldman Sachs Upgrades Las Vegas Sands Price Target to $80
Stock futures are edging higher this morning as markets enter the final full trading week of 2025, with investors responding to recent rally attempts and fading tech selloff pressure. Dow futures in particular have been gaining ground, and precious metals like gold and silver have also drawn inflows amid softer dollar conditions.Last week's mixed performance and rotation suggests investors are beginning to weigh earnings fundamentals more heavily than lofty growth multiples. Treasury yields have moved sideways after recent volatility, and risk appetite seems to be stabilizing, but only tentatively, as incoming economic indicators and central-bank decisions in both the U.S. and Europe remain key catalysts.In pre-market trading, S&P 500 futures rose 0.51%, Nasdaq futures rose 0.56% and Dow futures rose 0.48%.Check out this morning's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.HIGHER -Las Vegas Sandsup 3% after Goldman Sachs upgraded shares to Buy with a price target of $80, up from $64Dollar Generalup 1% after JPMorgan upgraded the stock to Overweight with a price target of $166, up from $128Marriottup 1% after Goldman Sachs upgraded shares to Buy with a price target of $345, up from $288UP AFTER EARNINGS -Highway Holdingsup 2%DOWN AFTER EARNINGS -Ocean Powerdown 16%LOWER -iRobotdown 69% after declaring bankruptcy and announcing Picea will acquire the companyServiceNowdown 5% after Bloombergthe company is in advanced discussions to buy Armis in a deal that could be valued at as much as $7B
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- Producer Price Increase: In February 2026, the Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.7% month-over-month, significantly exceeding the expected 0.3%, indicating that rising wholesale prices may lead to increased consumer prices and heightened inflation concerns.
- Impact of Rising Oil Prices: Since the onset of the war in Iran, gas prices have surged approximately 27%, directly increasing transportation costs, which in turn affects retail and industrial product pricing, potentially leading to widespread inflation.
- Inflation-Proof Stocks: In light of escalating inflation, AutoZone and Dollar General are highlighted as attractive inflation-resistant stocks, with AutoZone thriving during economic downturns and Dollar General benefiting from consumers shifting to cheaper products.
- Dollar General's Outlook: Dollar General achieved a 3% comparable sales growth in 2025, and despite a 2026 guidance of 2.2%-2.7% growth, the company's plan to open 460 new stores in 2026 indicates a proactive expansion strategy, positioning it well to capitalize on inflationary pressures.
- Surging Oil Prices: Oil prices have jumped approximately 27% since the onset of the war in Iran, leading to increased transportation costs and raising widespread inflation concerns that could affect retail and industrial product pricing.
- Producer Price Index: The Producer Price Index (PPI) rose by 0.7% month-over-month in February, significantly exceeding the expected 0.3%, indicating that rising wholesale prices may foreshadow higher consumer prices, exacerbating inflationary pressures.
- Food Price Increases: The surge in fertilizer prices due to the war is expected to drive food prices higher, increasing living costs for consumers and potentially impacting overall economic spending capacity.
- Investor Strategy Shift: In light of escalating inflation, investors are advised to consider incorporating inflation-proof stocks into their portfolios to navigate potential economic challenges ahead.
- Oil Price Surge: U.S. oil prices surpassed $100 last night following Trump's threats to strike Iran's Kharg Island, indicating the market's heightened sensitivity to Middle Eastern tensions, which could disrupt global energy supply chains.
- Strategic Significance: Kharg Island is crucial for Iran's oil exports, accounting for about 90% of its crude shipments; Trump's remarks may elevate international market assessments of supply risks, leading to increased volatility in global oil prices.
- Fed Investigation Impact: A federal judge blocked subpoenas against Fed Chair Powell, potentially prolonging the DOJ's investigation, which may allow Powell to remain in his position longer, thereby influencing interest rate policies and maintaining a high-rate environment.
- Nvidia Focus: Nvidia is set to unveil its next-generation CPUs at the annual GTC conference, and with surging demand for AI, the company may face a supply crisis for its chips, impacting its competitive position in the market.
- Operational Efficiency Gains: According to Jefferies, generative AI is enhancing operational efficiency in the U.S. retail sector by optimizing supply chains and inventory management, even as 'discovery risks' pose threats to laggards.
- Leader Advantage: Walmart (WMT) is leading in AI automation, leveraging its scale to integrate AI deeper into its supply chain, achieving significant operational margin improvements over peers.
- Transparency Gap: Big-box and discount retailers like Target (TGT) and Dollar General (DG) are vocal about their AI strategies, while off-price retailers like TJX and Ross (ROST) adopt a more reserved stance, potentially shifting market share towards more digitally adept competitors.
- Defining Long-term Winners: While AI currently supports margin upside across the board, Jefferies notes that future winners will be those who can convert operational efficiency into a lasting cost advantage, especially during the transition driven by consumer demand.
Stock Performance: Dollar General's shares fell about 10% following a weak 2026 forecast, but the stock quickly recovered half of its losses, indicating significant support at critical levels.
Market Sentiment: Institutional investors are aggressively buying Dollar General shares, reflecting a bullish sentiment despite cautionary notes regarding slowing sales and potential revenue growth.
Financial Results: The company reported a solid quarter with a 5.9% year-over-year revenue increase, driven by new store openings and improved sales, surpassing market expectations.
Future Outlook: Analysts suggest a potential rebound in the stock, supported by improvements in forecasts and upcoming earnings releases, while caution remains regarding revenue growth projections.
- Earnings Beat: Dollar General reported adjusted earnings of $1.93 per share for Q4, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.66, driven by a healthy 4.3% same-store sales growth and a 5.6% operating margin, demonstrating resilience in a competitive retail landscape.
- Sales Growth Highlights: The company achieved a 4.3% increase in same-store sales, with discretionary comps rising impressively by 6.1%, marking the highest level since Q1 2021, reflecting improvements in seasonal and home product merchandising.
- Conservative Future Guidance: Despite a strong Q4 performance, Dollar General's guidance for 2026 earnings is set at $7.10 to $7.35 per share, below the market expectation of $7.25, indicating a cautious outlook amid market uncertainties.
- Delivery Service Enhancement: The company’s delivery service contributed 80 basis points to same-store sales growth in Q4, with over 80% of orders delivered within an hour, highlighting its efforts to enhance customer experience and meet market demands.











