The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
1443 ET - Most-active corn futures on the CBOT are down 0.5% late in trading, turning lower while soybeans and wheat rise. Many are looking toward President Trump's speech in Clive, Iowa this afternoon, but expectations of what he might say on the podium are limited. "I can only think the market is prepared for another disappointing speech in Iowa today," says Linda Meyer of Agrisource. "That has been the trend." Trump is scheduled to speak in Iowa at 3 p.m. Central time, and may comment on issues like year-round E15 motor vehicle fuel, which is important to corn growers. Soybeans rise 0.5%, and wheat is up 0.1%. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)
1416 ET - It isn't exactly clear when Procter & Gamble will regain its competitive edge, but it will likely take awhile, TD Cowen analysts say. P&G acknowledges it fell behind as consumers changed how they use media to evaluate brands and shifted to shopping online, and now it's looking to use new analytical tools to develop insights and business actions more quickly, the analysts say. P&G has a head start given advantages in market research, R&D and media, but no one knows how long it will take to actually improve results, they say. "Given the size of the challenge, our sense is that it will take a long time," they say, noting market share has declined, with weakness in several key categories all at once. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)
1412 ET - Changes to U.S. immigration policy pose a hurdle for Procter & Gamble, which for decades has capitalized on the country's expanding Hispanic population and its growing economic prosperity, TD Cowen analysts say. Hispanic families are 36% bigger than the average U.S. family, meaning they buy more baby care products, and they also prioritize cleaning their houses, the analysts say. The impact of U.S. immigration polices will have a lingering effect on their sense of economic security, meaning it will be tougher to get them to trade up to premium-priced products, the analysts say, and "pose a significant challenge for P&G and the HPC (household & personal care) sector going forward." (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)
1353 ET - CGI's expanded partnership with OpenAI further strengthens its position in the accelerating market for AI-driven services, TD Cowen analyst David Kwan says. While Kwan cautioned that the deal "is not likely to reverse the AI-related overhang faced by CGI," the analyst says it meaningfully enhances the company's ability to win new mandates as clients move from pilots to full deployments. Kwan notes that the alliance builds on CGI's multi-year pilot program with OpenAI, which has already delivered faster resolution times and efficiency gains. Combined with last week's similar agreement with Google, he thinks "it should enable CGI to win a greater share of AI-focused opportunities and support a stronger organic growth outlook." (adriano.marchese@wsj.com)
1345 ET - Procter & Gamble's organic sales growth looks like it will be subdued at 2% for the next one to two years, TD Cowen analysts say. That view contradicts some assumptions that growth bottomed in F2Q and will reaccelerate due to easier comparisons and market share recovery, the analysts say. P&G's pricing will likely remain muted in the U.S. due to an emphasis on affordability and rising competitive intensity as consumers trade down in key diaper and laundry categories, they say. They also point to an uncertain timeline for reversing the company's market share losses as well as pressure on its key Hispanic consumers. They downgrade P&G to hold from buy. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)
1337 ET - Off-road vehicle maker Polaris is shedding its motorcycle business but will keep making boats, CEO Mike Speetzen tells analysts. The Minnesota-based manufacturer reached a deal last year to sell its Indian motorcycle brand to the private equity firm Carolwood LP, and some have speculated that its marine business, which includes Bennington pontoons and Hurricane deck boats, would be the next to go. Speetzen refutes that during an analyst call, saying the company's marine segment has already gotten rid of underperforming brands, and that the remaining ones are gaining market share and generating strong cash flow. Polaris sinks 6.7%.(john.keilman@wsj.com)
1329 ET - Kimberly-Clark doesn't expect consumers' focus on value to change anytime soon, according to Chief Operating Officer Russell Torres on a call with analysts. Like other categories, consumer demand has shifted across channels, Torres says. Shoppers are looking for different pack sizes, and purchase frequency has shifted, especially internationally and in developing markets, leading to choppier month-to-month consumption data, Torres says. The company has focused on offering a more competitive value proposition and making strategic investments in pack sizes as a result, he says. "I really think our mantra has been to meet consumers where they need us," Torres says. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)
1319 ET - Amazon's decision to double down on online grocery delivery and expand its Whole Foods Market brand is its latest move to threaten Walmart's grocery dominance, according to Mizuho in a note. Walmart's more than 4,000 stores is the most differentiating factor in what analysts David Bellinger and Declan Kelley call the "grocery war," and Amazon's plan to open more than 100 new Whole Foods Markets takes aim at the retail giant. Amazon also plans to test new retail formats, including a supercenter concept stocked with groceries, household essentials, and general merchandise, that's very much aimed at Walmart, the analysts say. Walmart is down 1%, while Kroger and Albertsons are off 2.7% and 3.2%, respectively.(amira.mckee@wsj.com)
1310 ET - The battle between American Airlines and United Airlines for Chicago could have impacts felt beyond O'Hare, Melius Research analyst Conor Cunningham writes in a note. American, which reported earnings Tuesday, says it hopes to get back to pre-pandemic levels of 500 to 550 flights daily out of ORD; United said the same morning that it's targeting 750 flights a day from Chicago this summer, and has vowed not to cede any more gates to American. "The biggest risk we see to American in 2026 is a full-on fare war in Chicago that gradually impacts other highly competitive markets," Cunningham writes. "If history is any guide, competitive skirmishes are rarely contained." Other airlines could reduce supply in Chicago as American and United become dominant players, he adds. (elias.schisgall@wsj.com)
1301 ET - Kimberly-Clark CEO Mike Hsu appears optimistic ahead of shareholders' vote on Thursday regarding the company's $40 billion deal to buy Kenvue. "I expect the vote to reflect the very positive feedback we've heard from our investors," Hsu says during a call with analysts. Of the shareholders who had already voted through Monday, more than 90% were in favor of the deal, Hsu says. The company still expects to close the deal sometime in the back half of the year. "I think the regulatory process is on track and consistent with our initial expectations," Hsu says.(kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)
1258 ET - Kimberly-Clark has been able to sell more of its products, even as consumers remain under pressure, because of its investments in innovation at every product tier, CEO Mike Hsu says. "We're growing because what we're doing is strengthening our offerings at every rung," Hsu says during a call with analysts. "We're continuing to bring great innovation at the top end, and then we are rushing that innovation through into our value tiers." Hsu says consumers are noticing that, and are responding well to the company's efforts to offer competitive costs. Organic sales rose 2.1% in the company's latest quarter, boosted by volume growth and partially offset by some investments to improve value propositions. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)
1238 ET - LVMH's fourth-quarter sales figures show that organic growth remains lackluster, Bernstein analysts write in a note to clients. The French luxury-goods giant reported quarterly sales of 22.72 billion euros, up 1% organically. However, LVMH's fashion and leather goods division, which houses brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior, contributed 10.16 billion euros in sales, down 3% organically. The company has been grappling with a slowdown in spending for luxury goods that has weighed on the industry for years. (mauro.orru@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 27, 2026 14:44 ET (19:44 GMT)
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