Business

Retailers are trimming assortments in an effort to clean up their balance sheets. As shoppers cut spending in the face of high gas and food prices, businesses have pulled more levers to boost profitability and appease investors. During earnings calls this year, a range of retailers have highlighted efforts to reduce the number of items

Delta Air Lines slashed its 2026 profit outlook as high fuel prices persist, but CEO Ed Bastian said pricier fares aren’t turning off travelers. Delta on Friday forecast full-year earnings per share of between $5.10 and $5.60 on an adjusted basis, compared with its outlook in July, when fuel prices were lower, of $6.50 to

A Delta Air Lines’ Airbus A350-900 aircraft is displayed during an unveiling event for Delta’s team USA livery for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse, south-western France on May 2, 2024. Ed Jones | AFP | Getty Images Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said his carrier is weighing

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol speaks during the Starbucks Investor Day event in New York City, U.S., January 29, 2026. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Starbucks has reportedly explored buying Chipotle Mexican Grill, but investors are split on whether the megadeal would make sense for both companies. The coffee giant has been working with advisers on a

Skydance co-CEO David Ellison told CNBC on Thursday — days after Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery officially closed — that the combined company is “positioned to win in every single vertical that we operate in.” Skydance includes film studios Paramount and Warner Bros.; the CBS broadcast network; a sprawling pay TV portfolio that includes

Levi Strauss on Wednesday increased its profit outlook, largely due to tariff refunds, but gave less rosy revenue guidance after a lackluster quarter of sales. The denim retailer raised its adjusted earnings per share expectation for the full fiscal year to between $1.54 and $1.56, from a previous range of $1.46 to $1.52. Analysts were

PepsiCo on Thursday reported quarterlyearningsand revenue that topped analysts’ expectations, fueled by international growth as its North American business continues to lag. With one quarter left in 2026, the company also lowered its forecast for its full-year earnings, as its struggles in its home market weigh on profits. Pepsi expects core earnings per share to

Cat owners are spending on their feline friends in a bright spot for pet food makers and sellers. Though consumers are watching their wallets as the prices of fuel and groceries rise, sales for cat food and other cat-related products are climbing, according to sellers of those products. General Mills, Chewy and Petco Health and

Darden Restaurants on Thursday reported quarterlyearningsand revenue that narrowly missed analysts’ expectations as same-store sales growth at Olive Garden slows. Shares of the company fell as much as 5% in premarket trading but pared back their losses as executives reassured investors on the company’s earnings conference call. The stock was down about 2% in morning

The Starbucks logo is seen at a store in Houston on September 25, 2025. Ronaldo Schemidt | Afp | Getty Images Starbucks on Thursday announced it will close about 1% of its North American cafes as part of its turnaround. Under CEO Brian Niccol, Starbucks has staged a revamp of its U.S. business that has

Lowe’s is launching a drone delivery service in partnership with DoorDash and Alphabet‘s Wing, CNBC has learned exclusively. The company said the new drone delivery service — a first in the home improvement retail space — will give customers access to over 100 products in a delivery window as fast as 20 minutes. A pilot

McDonald’s on Wednesday announced plans to create its own media network, following in the footsteps of retail giants like Amazon and Walmart. In August, 450 of its company-owned U.S. restaurants began displaying advertising for other companies on its digital drive-thru order boards as part of a pilot. It is early days for the program, which

McDonald’s Corp. signage on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images McDonald’s on Wednesday announced plans for its own media network, pricey restaurant upgrades and ways to win over GLP-1 users during an investor presentation at its

Royal Caribbean has agreed to take a 50% equity stake in Sandals for $3 billion, the companies announced Wednesday. The deal values the Caribbean resort chain at $6 billion and is expected to boost growth for both companies. The transaction is expected to close early next year. Royal Caribbean’s stock is down roughly 25% over