Walmart profits soar as Target takes major hit over 'woke' merchandise

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2023

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Walmart’s quarterly sales and profits smashed expectations on Thursday — one day after Target said its revenue dropped for the first time in six years as a result of customers negative reaction to its Pride Month collection.

Walmart’s earnings release showed that e-commerce increased a whopping 24% in the 13-week period ended July 28, buoyed mostly by pickup and delivery orders placed online.

Sales at stores and digital channels open for at least a year were up 6.4% — well above the 4% Bloomberg analysts expected — and international net sales increased 11%, to $27 billion.

Foot traffic was also up 2.8% across the Arkansas-based discount retailer’s portfolio of 10,500-plus locations.

The gains prompted Walmart to raise its annual profit forecast for the second straight quarter.

“We like our position for the back half of the year,” Walmart’s longtime chief executive, Doug McMillon, said in the earnings report.

Strong revenue was attributed to increased grocery sales, though McMillon pointed out that there were also encouraging results across general merchandise, especially at Sam’s Club, where membership income climbed 7%.

The Post has sought comment from Walmart.

Retail rival Target, meanwhile, lowered its profit goal for the full year after a dismal quarter where sales, foot traffic and inventory dipped.

The losses were attributed to consumers’ “negative reaction” to its Pride collection, which included tuck-friendly women’s swimwear and LGBTQ-friendly gear for infants and children that particularly outraged many shoppers.

Targets CFO Michael Fiddelke addressed the Minneapolis-based retailer’s disastrous rainbow-clad collection in an earnings call on Wednesday, saying: Traffic and top line trends were affected by the reaction to our Pride assortment.

Sales at stores and digital channels open for at least a year were off 5.4% from a year earlier, according to Targets Q2 earnings report released Wednesday, while digital sales slipped 10.5%.

Fiddelke said on the call that the retailer couldnt quantify the impact the Pride collection alone had on comparable sales.

Targets revenue for the three-month period ended July 29 was $24.8 billion 4.9% lower than this time last year and worse than the companys predictions.

The figure was slightly under the $25.2 billion economists expected, though the dip isnt surprising considering Targets stock lost nearly $14 billion as the Pride Month controversy grabbed headlines.

Though Walmart also offered items in celebration of Pride — part of its “Pride & Joy” collection — it seemed to fly under the radar of conservative pundits who, at the time, were accusing Target of grooming children with its merchandise, which included a childrens book titled Twas the Night Before Pride, and a handful of T-shirts donning LGBTQ-friendly slogans, like live laugh lesbian.”

Target responded to the backlash by yanking some of its Pride items off shelves and relocating its celebratory displays father back in stores.

The move then caused Pride supporters to condemn the company for falling victim to extremists, leading to a boycott from customers on both sides of the political aisle.

Walmart, meanwhile, refused to make any changes to its LGBTQ+-friendly merchandise despite the fierce criticism Target was experiencing.

We have merchandise that we sell all year that supports different groups, Walmart chief merchandising officer Latriece Watkins said at the start of Pride Month in June. In this particular case, we havent changed anything in our assortment.

Sports

Phils’ Turner, NL hits leader, injures hamstring

Published

3 hours ago

September 7, 2025

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Phils' Turner, NL hits leader, injures hamstring

Associated Press

Sep 7, 2025, 04:10 PM ET

MIAMI — Philadelphia Phillies star shortstop Trea Turner left the team’s game against the Miami Marlins in the seventh inning Sunday because of a right hamstring strain.

Turner hit a solo homer in the sixth to narrow Philadelphia’s deficit to 4-2. When his turn came again in the seventh, Turner legged out a grounder and reached on a throwing error by Miami Otto Lopez.

Edmundo Sosa replaced Turner as the baserunner and at shortstop.

The 32-year-old Turner leads the NL in batting average at .305 and also has a league-leading 179 hits this season.

Sports

Bichette out for Yanks finale after plate collision

Published

3 hours ago

September 7, 2025

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Bichette out for Yanks finale after plate collision

Associated Press

Sep 7, 2025, 12:38 PM ET

NEW YORK — Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was not in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees a day after colliding with Austin Wells on a play at the plate.

Bichette was thrown out in the sixth inning of Saturday’s 3-1 loss by Cody Bellinger‘s 95.3 mph one-hop throw from right field when he attempted to score on a single by Nathan Lukes.

He hobbled off the field with the assistance of a trainer after colliding with Wells’ shin guard. The game was delayed by rain for nearly two hours, and during the delay, X-rays came back negative. Bichette struck out in his final at-bat Saturday.

“It didn’t look great, but we’re at the point where if you can play, you can play,” manager John Schneider said Saturday. “Bo understands that, and everyone understands that. I don’t think it needed stitches or anything, but there was a lot going on.”

Bichette is third in the major leagues with a .311 average. He has 18 homers and leads Toronto with 93 RBIs in 139 games this season.

He also leads the majors with 181 hits and 44 doubles and is hitting .418 (33-for-79) during a 20-game on-base streak.

Ernie Clement started at shortstop for the Blue Jays, who began Sunday with a three-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East.

Sports

AP Week 2 poll reaction: What’s next for each Top 25 team

Published

3 hours ago

September 7, 2025

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AP Week 2 poll reaction: What's next for each Top 25 team

Sep 7, 2025, 02:26 PM ET

The latest AP poll is out. After a dramatic first week of action, not much changed at the top of the rankings with most teams pulling out wins, but there was still quite a bit of movement throughout.

And we did see some upsets and impressive wins with four ranked teams (the Arizona State Sun Devils, Florida Gators, Michigan Wolverines and SMU Mustangs) all losing — Florida, SMU and ASU are no longer ranked as a result.

The top seven schools in the rankings, on the other hand, outscored their opponents by a combined 307-26. In all, four AP-ranked teams scored 70 or more points, the second time that has happened in the AP poll era (since 1936).

Stats courtesy of ESPN Research.

All times Eastern

Previous ranking: 1

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Grambling 70-0

Stat to know: Julian Sayin completed his first 16 passes to start the game. It’s the longest streak to begin a game in school history.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Ohio, 7 p.m., Peacock

Previous ranking: 2

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated FIU 34-0

Stat to know: This was Penn State’s 13th shutout since 2014, the second most in that span behind Alabama’s 15.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Villanova, 3:30 p.m., FS1

Previous ranking: 3

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Louisiana Tech 23-7

Stat to know: LSU has not lost a home game to an in-state opponent since 1982.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Florida, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 6

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Oklahoma State 69-3

Stat to know: The 66-point win is Oregon’s largest win against an FBS opponent since 2019 against Nevada (won by 71 points).

What’s next: Saturday at Northwestern, noon, Fox

Previous ranking: 5

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Bethune-Cookman 45-3

Stat to know: Carson Beck completed his first 15 passes in Week 2. He passed Vinny Testaverde (1986, against Oklahoma) for the most consecutive completions within a game in Miami history.

What’s next: Saturday vs. South Florida, 4:30 p.m., CW Network

Previous ranking: 4

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Austin Peay 28-6

Stat to know: The 22-point win is the narrowest margin of victory by a top-five SEC team against a non-FBS opponent since 2012.

What’s next: Saturday at Tennessee, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 7

2025 record: 1-1

Week 2 result: Defeated San Jose State 38-7

Stat to know: Arch Manning joined Vince Young, Colt McCoy and David Ash by throwing multiple touchdown passes of more than 20 yards and having a TD run over 20 yards in multiple games.

What’s next: Saturday vs. UTEP, 4:15 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 9

2025 record: 0-1

Week 2 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., NBC

Previous ranking: 11

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Duke 45-19

Stat to know: After scoring 52 points against Western Illinois last week, the Illini have scored 45 points in consecutive games for the first time in the past 20 seasons.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Western Michigan, 7 p.m., FS1

Previous ranking: 14

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated East Texas A&M 77-3

Stat to know: FSU had 729 total yards, the most by the Seminoles since Nov. 4, 2000.

What’s next: Sept. 20 vs. Kent State

Previous ranking: 10

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated South Carolina State 38-10

Stat to know: Vicari Swain recorded two punt returns for touchdowns against South Carolina State, making that three for the season (and he has done it in just six quarters).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Vanderbilt, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 8

2025 record: 1-1

Week 2 result: Defeated Troy 27-16

Stat to know: Clemson trailed 16-0 before scoring the final 27 points of the game. That is the largest comeback win for Clemson since 2020 against Boston College.

What’s next: Saturday at Georgia Tech, noon, ESPN

Previous ranking: 18

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Michigan 24-13

Stat to know: OU has not allowed a point in the first half of consecutive games for the first time since 2009.

What’s next: Saturday at Temple, noon, ESPN2

Previous ranking: 16

2025 record: 3-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Iowa 16-13

Stat to know: Iowa State won at home in this series for the first time since 2011.

What’s next: Saturday at Arkansas State, 4 p.m., ESPN2

Previous ranking: 22

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated East Tennessee State 72-17

Stat to know: The 72 points are the Volunteers’ most points scored in a game in the AP poll era (1936).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 19

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Utah State 44-22

Stat to know: Marcel Reed has thrown three touchdown passes in three consecutive games. It’s the second-longest streak at A&M since 2004.

What’s next: Saturday at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m., NBC

Previous ranking: 20

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Kentucky 30-23

Stat to know: This was Ole Miss’ fourth win when trailing by 10 or more points in the Lane Kiffin era.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Florida 18-16

Stat to know: USF is the fourth team in the AP poll era (since 1936) to win its first two games of a season against AP-ranked opponents while being unranked in each win, joining 2012 Oregon State, 2008 East Carolina and 1976 North Carolina.

What’s next: Saturday at Miami, 4:30 p.m., CW

Previous ranking: 21

2025 record: 1-1

Week 2 result: Defeated UL Monroe 73-0

Stat to know: Ty Simpson finished 17-of-17, the most completions without an incompletion in a game in SEC history. It is also the most consecutive completions within a game in Alabama history.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Wisconsin, noon, ABC

Previous ranking: 25

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Cal Poly 63-9

Stat to know: After Jackson Bennee returned an interception 46 yards for a score, it extended Utah’s streak of returning at least one interception for a touchdown to 22 straight seasons.

What’s next: Saturday at Wyoming, 8 p.m., CBSSN

Previous ranking: 24

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Kent State 62-14

Stat to know: Texas Tech has outscored its opponents by 108 points this season, its second most through the first two games of a season in the AP poll era (since 1936).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Oregon State, 3:30 p.m., Fox

Previous ranking: 23

2025 record: 2-0

Week 2 result: Defeated Kennesaw State 56-9

Stat to know: Indiana improves to 11-0 against Conference USA teams all-time, the fourth-most wins without a loss against the conference.

What’s next: Friday vs. Indiana State, 6:30 p.m., BTN

Previous ranking: 15

2025 record: 1-1

Week 2 result: Lost to Oklahoma 24-13

Stat to know: Justice Haynes‘ four rushing scores this season are the most by a Michigan player in his first two games with the school in the past 30 seasons.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Central Michigan, noon, BTN