Story Stocks

Dave & Buster's is under pressure following a disappointing Q2 (Jul) earnings report. Revenue was flat yr/yr at $557.4 mln, missing estimates, while comps fell -3.0%, a sequential improvement from -8.3% in Q1. EPS also came in below expectations, underscoring ongoing operational and strategic challenges.

New CEO Tarun Lal, who took over in July 2025, is wasting no time diagnosing PLAY's issues and plotting a turnaround. With 25+ years at Yum! Brands (YUM) — most recently as President of KFC US — Lal brings deep operational expertise. He views Dave & Buster's as a "category of one" with significant untapped potential, despite what he called a series of "fixable" missteps.

Where PLAY went wrong:

• Marketing misfire: The brand exited TV entirely and diluted its messaging with too many promotions.
• F&B strategy misstep: A shift toward appetizers and away from high-revenue entrees hurt margins.
• Operational misalignment: Fast changes disrupted communication and hurt training.
• Games underinvestment: New game introductions were cut by ~80%, hurting traffic and relevance.

Positive early changes under Lal:

• TV ads are back, with more focused promotions.
• Stronger food strategy led to higher attach rates via the Eat & Play Combo and improved entrée positioning.
• 10 new game titles introduced in 2025 to refresh the arcade experience.
• Training and corporate-field communication have been rebuilt.
• International expansion is underway, with a second franchise opened in India and five more openings planned.

CEO Outlook: Lal made bold comments on valuation, calling the stock "extremely undervalued" relative to peers. He cited PLAY's strong brand equity, cash flow generation, and long-term economics as key strengths. His own compensation package is tied directly to stock performance, aligning his incentives with shareholders.

Briefing.com Analyst Insight:

While Q2 results were weak, new leadership is actively addressing past missteps. If Lal can execute, PLAY may have a credible path to a turnaround — but it remains a show-me story for now.

Intel (INTC) is moving sharply higher after the company disclosed in an SEC filing that it now expects FY25 adjusted operating expenses to be $16.8 bln, down from its prior forecast of $17.0 bln. The improved expense outlook follows INTC’s completed sale of its majority stake in Altera -- its programmable chip unit -- on September 12. The move is being viewed positively by investors as a tangible step in INTC’s broader strategy to streamline operations, bolster liquidity, and remain disciplined with cost controls amid a still-challenging competitive landscape.

• The update comes with further reassurance for investors: INTC reaffirmed its 2026 non-GAAP operating expense target of $16.0 bln. That reaffirmation signals the company’s continued focus on cost discipline and lends credibility to its multi-year turnaround strategy, especially as it looks to reduce spending while simultaneously investing in strategic growth areas such as AI, foundry services, and next-gen chip design.
• The divestiture of Altera, which generated $816 mln in revenue during 1H25, is part of INTC’s broader realignment to sharpen its core focus and free up capital. Management appears committed to streamlining the business in order to better compete against more agile and higher-growth rivals. Although Altera contributed meaningful revenue, its sale aligns with INTC’s strategy to concentrate resources on its most promising, scalable segments.
• Still, INTC faces major challenges ahead. Most notably, the company’s loss-generating Foundry business remains a long-term project that has yet to prove it can achieve the kind of scale and profitability enjoyed by global leaders like Taiwan Semiconductor.
• Meanwhile, competitive pressure is intensifying: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and NVIDIA (NVDA) continue to widen their technological lead, especially in AI-accelerated computing, while Qualcomm (QCOM) is gaining ground in the PC and laptop markets with new ARM-based chipsets that threaten Intel’s x86 dominance.

Briefing.com Analyst Insight:

INTC is catching a tailwind today after trimming its FY25 expense forecast and reaffirming its 2026 cost-reduction target -- a move that supports the bull case for INTC’s ongoing turnaround. The sale of its majority stake in Altera helps shore up cash and streamline the business, signaling continued strategic discipline. However, the road ahead remains steep. INTC still needs to prove it can revive its foundry ambitions, regain CPU share from AMD, and hold off QCOM’s push into client computing. The company is taking steps in the right direction, but execution will be critical in the quarters to come.

Hain Celestial (HAIN) is under heavy pressure today after reporting Q4 (Jun) results that badly missed expectations. The food and wellness company posted an adjusted net loss of $0.02/share compared to a profit of $0.13/share last year, while revenue fell 13.4% yr/yr to $363 mln, marking one of its steepest quarterly declines in recent years.

• The shortfall was broad-based, with North America organic net sales down 14% on snack velocity challenges and distribution losses, while International fell 6% amid softness in baby food and unusually warm weather that hurt soup sales.
• Gross margin compressed 290 bps yr/yr to 20.5%, pressured by weaker volume mix, inflation, and higher trade spend.
• New leadership is pursuing a turnaround with 12% SG&A cuts, SKU rationalization, and exits from underperforming categories like meat-free in North America. A Goldman Sachs-led strategic review could also result in asset sales.
• The company is also revamping its innovation pipeline and rolling out pricing actions across most categories, with new product launches in snacks, tea, yogurt, and soups aimed at reigniting growth.
• With the review ongoing, HAIN withheld FY26 guidance but expects Q1 sales/EBITDA to mirror Q4's weak levels, before stronger 2H performance on cost actions and portfolio streamlining. Management emphasized its goal of positive free cash flow in FY26.

Briefing.com Analyst Insight

This was another tough quarter for Hain Celestial, as the surprise loss, sharp revenue decline, and lack of concrete guidance have spooked investors. While new leadership is pushing bold restructuring efforts, including cost cuts and portfolio simplification, the turnaround faces significant execution risk and will likely take time to bear fruit. More broadly, the stock has been in a multiyear downtrend since late 2021, underscoring persistent doubts about HAIN's ability to stabilize its brands, regain market share, and reignite sustainable growth.

Harley-Davidson is an under-the-radar name that could benefit meaningfully from a Fed rate cut, expected at Wednesday's FOMC meeting. As a maker of premium, highly discretionary motorcycles, HOG stands to gain from lower financing costs that could entice buyers back into the showroom.

• Motorcycles are big-ticket items, and demand is sensitive to interest rates — making HOG a lesser-discussed but clear beneficiary of easier monetary policy.
• Beyond the macro angle, HOG has joined our YIELD Leaders rankings, thanks to a strong shareholder yield of 10.3% (8.0% buyback yield + 2.3% dividend yield), placing it in the top 10 of our report.

HOG has had a tough stretch: Q2 revenue: $1.31 bln, down 19% yr/yr due to planned shipment cuts and soft demand. That marked the fourth straight quarter of double-digit revenue declines, with Q3 also expected to be down, though less sharply.

But there are reasons to take a fresh look:

• Financial overhaul: HOG just sold residual interests in securitized loans and entered a five-year financing partnership with KKR and PIMCO. These firms will buy ~two-thirds of future HDFS retail loan originations annually at a premium. The deal will generate substantial cash, allowing HOG to pay down ~$450 mln in debt and ramp up its $1.0 bln buyback — with $500 mln (~14% of shares) targeted in 2H25.
• Leadership is also getting a refresh: New CEO Artie Starrs (formerly of Topgolf Callaway) takes the reins Oct. 1, signaling potential strategic change.

Briefing.com Analyst Insight:

HOG is more than just bikes — it's a global lifestyle brand, with revenue from parts, apparel, and financial services. Lower rates, a de-risked financing arm, an aggressive buyback plan, and a new CEO all position the company for a potential turnaround. With a shareholder yield north of 10%, HOG is a compelling name to watch if the Fed begins cutting.

Tesla (TSLA) shares are jumping today after CEO Elon Musk reportedly purchased nearly $1.0 bln worth of TSLA stock, marking his first direct stock buy since February 2020. The massive purchase is being interpreted by the market as a strong vote of confidence in TSLA’s long-term prospects, especially as the company navigates a tumultuous 2025 marked by slumping deliveries, eroding market share -- particularly in China -- and growing competitive pressures in the EV space.

• Musk’s move comes at a pivotal moment for TSLA. The company is facing both short-term and structural challenges, including softening EV demand, margin compression from aggressive price cuts, and a looming phase-out of the $7,500 U.S. federal EV tax credit at the end of September. 
• While the credit’s expiration could spark a short-term demand spike in Q3, it also sets the stage for another potential sales headwind in Q4 and beyond. That makes Musk’s timing all the more significant, suggesting a longer-term bet that TSLA can pivot toward next-gen technologies and monetization avenues.
• Indeed, Musk’s purchase reflects more than just faith in the core EV business -- it’s a bold bet on TSLA’s emerging initiatives in AI, robotaxis, and humanoid robotics. Musk has repeatedly emphasized that these frontier technologies, not vehicles, will define TSLA’s future.  The robotaxi platform, in particular, is a cornerstone of that vision, with Musk projecting it to become TSLA’s most valuable business line.
• Musk’s stock buy also comes in the shadow of TSLA’s controversial proposal to reinstate a $1 trillion pay package for the CEO, contingent on meeting aggressive valuation and performance benchmarks. That compensation structure has drawn criticism but also reflects the company’s ambition and reliance on Musk’s leadership to drive high-risk, high-reward innovation.

Briefing.com Analyst Insight:

TSLA is catching a bid today on news of Musk’s $1 bln stock purchase, a rare and bullish signal amid what’s been a difficult year operationally. While the EV business faces structural headwinds and intensifying global competition, particularly from Chinese rivals, the market is treating Musk’s buy as a sign that the next chapter -- built around AI, robotics, and autonomy -- could unlock massive future value. However, that future remains speculative, and with regulatory hurdles, technical challenges, and demand risks on the horizon, TSLA still has much to prove.