BUSINESS

Looking for help with today’s New York Times Pips? We’ll walk you through today’s puzzle and help you match dominoes to tiles.

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale produced world record numbers as the largest auction in history. The through the ring sales exceeded last year’s record numbers.

The technology can significantly augment precision medicine and therapeutics in the coming decades.

International breaks are proving costly for top soccer clubs, with Real Madrid recently seeing key players like Mbappé and Konaté injured while on national duty.

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Why we love this deal

Space-saving storage solutions have become more popular, allowing you to use vertical space or underutilized corners to easily store your items out of the way. Most homes can benefit from extra storage, especially portable storage carts that can be used around the house. Slim carts can be used in the bathroom, kitchen, pantry, laundry, or closet, making them a versatile option for anyone. 

The Goovilla 3-Tier Rolling Cart is the perfect addition for some small-space, mobile storage. The accessories offer extra organization, and the wheels make it easy to bring the cart around the house if needed. This 3-tier cart is just $22 at Amazon, saving shoppers 10%. 

Goovilla 3-Tier Rolling Cart, $22 (was $24) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?

This cart has tons of organizational features. The two bottom tiers have slotted bottoms that allow airflow, working well for potted plants, beauty supplies that accidently spill, or cleaning supplies, while the top tier has a solid top shelf with a drawer below. The tray can hold smaller items that you’re using in the moment, while easily storing them in the drawer when you’re done. It has four hooks that can be attached to different areas of the cart, perfect for holding washcloths, jewelry, or bags, while the two hanging cups are perfect for pens and pencils, screwdrivers, or crafting supplies.

Related: Walmart’s 5-tier storage cabinet that’s ‘perfect for small spaces’ is just $43

With so many areas to store your items, this would make a great cleaning cart around the home, craft storage, or DIY tool storage. The plastic material can easily be wiped clean and doesn’t rust, offering a useful alternative for bathroom storage or laundry room items, and the wheels lock in place whenever needed. The whole cart measures 30.6 inches tall, 14.9 inches wide, and 10.6 inches deep, and includes two handles on the top that make it easy to maneuver. 

Details to know

Size: The cart measures 30.6 inches tall, 14.9 inches wide, and 10.6 inches deep. 

Accessories: The set includes four hooks and two small pencil cup holders that can be hung off the side. 

Storage: It has two bucket shelves, one tray, and one pull-out shelf.

One reviewer wrote, “I put it together in 10 minutes, and immediately put it into service in a bathroom closet to hold guest towels, extra toiletries, and other light items. It is very sturdy and moves around easily on the wheels.”Another buyer wrote, “It’s a sturdy, lightweight cart, perfect for small spaces. It has lots of room for my items. The shelves are spaced out nicely to give plenty of room for my taller items. I like the drawer feature.”

Shop more deals

Yasonic 3-Tier Metal Rolling Cart, $30 (was $34) at Amazon

Salon Rolling Trolley with Sliding Bucket Shelves, $23 (was $26) at Amazon

Ctsnslh 4-Tier Plastic Stackable Bins, $30 (was $48) at Amazon

The Goovilla 3-Tier Rolling Cart is sturdy, convenient, and helps organize your items without taking up tons of space. The handles make it easy to maneuver around the house, while the drawer cutouts help keep your items dry and prevent musty smells and mold buildup on towels and clothes. For just $22, this rolling cart offers a versatile option packed with accessories. 

As a consumer, there’s nothing worse than walking into a store and finding one of your favorites missing. It has happened to me countless times, when a beloved beverage, cereal, or another favorite gets discontinued.

It’s, however, a really good feeling when something that disappeared makes a comeback. Those are emotions that retail giants, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi, like to manipulate.

Coca-Cola has not been kind when it comes to getting rid of slower-selling flavors, even when they have a dedicated fanbase.

The most famous example of that is the company’s 2020 decision to stop making TaB, its first diet soda.

That inspired the SaveTaBSoda Committee, a group of fans of the diet beverage who want to force Coca-Cola to bring it back.

“We’re TaB drinkers on a mission to save our soda. The SaveTaBSoda Committee was formed in October 2020, shortly after the Coca-Cola Company announced the planned discontinuation of TaB soda,” the group shared on its website.

Coca-Cola has not given in, despite a protest at the company’s headquarters, a petition, and multiple other efforts to force the company to bring back the classic soda.

That doesn’t mean Coca-Cola never brings back a classic flavor. The company has two cult-favorite holiday sodas, and one of them was discontinued in 2021. Another was canceled in 2018, but a variation of it will make a 2026 return to shelves.

Coca-Cola Cinnamon is not coming back

Coca-Cola Cinnamon, introduced in 2019, was a limited-time offer for the Christmas season. The company trumpeted the flavor in a 2019 news release, which is no longer on the company’s website.

“Coca‑Cola also is spicing up the season with the limited-edition launch of Coca‑Cola Cinnamon, which blends the delicious taste of Coca‑Cola with a warm cinnamon flavor associated with the holidays,” the company wrote.

The company brought back Cinnamon Coke in 2020 but not in 2021. It has not returned since.

In 2023, Coca-Cola ignored a request from TheStreet for a comment on the fate of Coca-Cola Cinnamon.

Coca-Cola has discontinued many sodas over the years.Shutterstock

Coca-Cola brings back another holiday classic

In 2013, Coca-Cola introduced Sprite Cranberry for the holiday season.

“Both products take the refreshing taste of traditional Sprite and combine it with a splash of sweet and tart cranberry notes,” the company shared in a press release.

It was the first new Sprite flavor since Sprite Remix in 2005.

More Retail:

Home Depot is making a big bet on cautious consumers

Another state just banned a controversial retail pricing practice

JPMorgan just flagged a slow-build food crisis

“We’re incorporating one of the most popular flavors of the season with the No. 1 lemon-lime brand to celebrate the holidays,” Sprite Brands executive Kim Paige said at the time. “Over the years, our fans have increasingly demanded Sprite with cranberry flavor, and we’re excited to give it to them with the crisp, clear, caffeine-free, naturally flavored taste they already love about Sprite.”

That flavor was brought back every year seasonally until 2018, when it was discontinued. In 2019, however, Coca-Cola introduced a new take on the drink, Winter Spiced Cranberry.

“Coca-Cola changed the classic Sprite Cranberry — which had been a holiday staple for six years — to a new warm spice- and cranberry-flavored lemon-lime soda. The holiday Sprite became an immediate favorite,” Allrecipes reported.

While the new variant has appeared every year since the old one was killed, Coca-Cola had not commented on whether it will return this year. Several social media accounts that track beverage releases have, however, confirmed the return.

“Holiday soda season is coming very soon! Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla and Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry are both set to return in mid-October 2026, including Zero Sugar options,” Snackwire reported.

All Things Hallows, which covers seasonal product releases, also reported on the return.

“Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry: The seasonal favorite returns in Original and Zero Sugar,” it shared on its Facebook page.

Kroger has added a page listing the returning Sprite, but it’s still showing as unavailable. Walmart also has a product listing, but it shows no stock.

Pepsi’s holiday classic can’t return

In 2023, Pepsi discontinued a holiday favorite by killing the entire brand it was part of.

PepsiCo dropped its entire Sierra Mist product line. That meant Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash was quietly killed as the company replaced Sierra Mist with Starry as its lemon-lime soda. 

It won’t prevent Pepsi from offering a seasonal flavor this winter, according to Sodaseekers, a top Instagram page covering the beverage industry.

“The newest Pepsi holiday innovation is almost here! The product images seen here came from an official database, confirming this release,” the Instagram page wrote next to pictures of Pepsi Vanilla & Cream, in full and Zero Sugar.

It will be released in October and is expected at all Pepsi retailers, the site reported.

Sporked also confirmed that Pepsi would be releasing a Vanilla & Cream flavor.

Related: Kroger pulls a gas perk as pump prices set a September record

Chevron Corporation (CVX) got another positive evaluation from Wall Street, and this one came with a higher price target.

HSBC raised its price target on the oil giant to $250 from $218 while keeping its Buy rating. The move was part of a wider set of changes the bank made to its oil ratings this week as crude prices stay high.

The timing is interesting for Chevron shareholders. The stock trades near $204 and is up more than 31% for the year, but it has fallen from its September peak of about $217.

At the new target, HSBC is basically saying the recent drop is a chance to buy more.

Inside HSBC’s $32 bump for Chevron

HSBC’s September 25 decision to raise its Chevron target by $32 was part of a broader shift in its oil ratings. The bank also upgraded BP and TotalEnergies to Buy while keeping Buy ratings on Shell and Repsol, according to Investing.com.

The analyst team pointed to the fact that Chevron’s profits go up quickly when oil prices rise. That is because the company focuses heavily on producing crude oil.

HSBC raised its cash flow forecasts for Chevron by 15% for 2026, 46% for 2027, and 23% for 2028, Investing.com reported.

More Oil Coverage 

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At about $204 per share, the new $250 target means the stock could gain another 22% or so. If it gets there, Chevron would be well above its all-time high, rewarding shareholders who held on through this year’s sharp oil price swings.

HSBC also noted that Chevron has “the lowest” Middle East exposure of the five biggest global oil companies. With supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz still at risk, that gives Chevron a real advantage.

HSBC cites Chevron’s oil sensitivity and low Middle East exposure as reasons for a new price target.Juanmonino / Getty Images

What Chevron does and why oil price swings matter so much

Chevron is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. It pumps crude oil and natural gas out of the ground, moves it through pipelines and tankers, and turns it into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricants, and chemicals at its refineries. About 71% of its net sales came from refining and distribution at the end of 2025.

That matters because Chevron’s profits move with the price of oil more closely than most of its rivals. When Brent crude trades above $90 a barrel, Chevron’s profits climb fast. When it falls near $60, they shrink just as quickly.

Chevron’s second quarter results showed this pattern clearly. The company reported adjusted earnings of $12 billion, or $6.06 per share, beating expectations, according to Yahoo Finance.

Global production hit 4.07 million barrels of oil per day, up 20% from a year earlier, helped by the Hess acquisition and record U.S. output.

CEO Mike Wirth, who has led Chevron since 2018, said the results reflected “disciplined investment and strong execution.”

Bigger buybacks, 39 straight dividend hikes, and a Venezuela push

The clearest benefit of HSBC’s upgrade for shareholders is what the bank thinks Chevron will do with all that cash. HSBC now expects Chevron to raise its yearly buyback pace to $15 billion, up from a range of $10 billion to $12 billion.

Buybacks reduce the number of shares in the market. That helps push up earnings per share and, over time, the stock price. For long-term Chevron holders, each remaining share becomes a bigger claim on future profits.

The dividend record is even stronger. Chevron has raised its dividend for 39 years in a row, putting it in a small group known as Dividend Aristocrats.

The current quarterly dividend of $1.78 per share works out to a yield of about 3.48%, well above the average yield on the S&P 500.

The company is also growing overseas.

Wirth said Chevron’s $7 billion Venezuela push reflects “our confidence in the country’s deep resource potential.” He also told the University of Texas Energy Symposium that the expansion will be paid for with local profits.

What could possibly trip up the $250 target

No price target is a guarantee, and Chevron faces some risks that could keep the stock from reaching $250. The biggest risk is oil itself. HSBC’s higher cash flow forecasts rest on the idea that crude stays high due to ongoing tensions abroad.

If Middle East / Iran hostilities calm down and Iranian oil returns to global markets, the boost that war worries added to Chevron’s earnings could fade fast.

That already happened once this year. When the Strait of Hormuz reopened in late June, WTI crude fell to about $69 a barrel, and Chevron and Exxon shares both dropped sharply.

Chevron also has more to lose than several rivals if U.S. natural gas prices drop, since it has a bigger LNG footprint.

HSBC’s own note flagged that its lower 2027 gas price forecast hits Chevron harder than most peers. The stock is solid, but its profits still depend on a commodity nobody fully controls.

Related: Louis Navellier delivers hot take on rising bond yields

With grocery prices remaining high, shoppers are constantly looking for ways to save without sacrificing the quality of products they trust.

Increasingly, this has begun to mean putting more store brands in carts.

U.S. private-label consumer packaged goods sales have reached $330 billion, accounting for 24% of unit sales and 23% of dollar sales, according to Circana.

In food and beverages, private-label products now account for roughly 24% of sales value.

The shift accelerated as high grocery prices pushed consumers to search for less expensive alternatives to national brands.

But new research suggests that price is no longer the only reason shoppers choose them.

Ninety-two percent of U.S. grocery shoppers now have private-brand products in their homes, according to FMI-The Food Industry Association.

Nearly half said they increased their private-label purchases over the past year.

More strikingly, 94% said they would continue buying store brands even if grocery prices declined.

This suggests that some of the shopping habits consumers developed during the inflation surge may be sticking around.

And major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, Costco, and Aldi are investing heavily to make sure they do.

Store brands are more than a cheaper option

Private-label products once carried a fairly simple proposition: a similar product at a lower price.

But retailers are increasingly trying to move beyond that.

Circana research shows private-label growth has expanded into premium, wellness-focused, sustainable, and indulgent products.

Here’s some of my coverage of how grocery retailers are changing to win value-conscious shoppers:

Aldi: The discount grocer is rapidly expanding across the U.S. as shoppers increasingly seek lower prices and store-exclusive products.

Kroger: Kroger is adding exclusive products and new private-brand offerings as competition from Walmart, Amazon, and discount grocers intensifies.

Grocery prices: Elevated food costs continue to pressure household budgets, pushing shoppers toward cheaper brands, promotions and value-focused retailers.

Meanwhile, consumers are increasingly viewing store brands as comparable in quality to national brands.

FMI found a similar shift.

Thirty-nine percent of shoppers who increased their private-brand purchases cited quality, up from 30% in 2023, while 37% cited taste, up from 26%.

Private labels are also influencing where consumers choose to shop.

56% of consumers said their primary retailer’s store-brand selection is very or extremely important when deciding where to shop, according to FMI.

That gives retailers another reason to invest in products shoppers cannot simply find at a competing supermarket.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature is the biggest example of private labels’ success.Kevin Carter / Getty Images

Walmart makes bigger push behind Great Value

Few retailers have more at stake in private label than Walmart.

Great Value is Walmart’s largest private brand and, according to the retailer, the largest food and consumables CPG brand in the U.S.

The company says Great Value products are found in nine out of 10 U.S. households.

Earlier in April, Walmart announced the first complete redesign of the brand in more than a decade, covering nearly 10,000 food and consumables products.

Walmart says an average family can save about 35% annually by choosing Great Value products instead of comparable national brands.

But the redesign is not just about price.

Walmart said the new packaging is intended to improve visibility and make products easier to find in stores and online.

This is another sign that retailers increasingly want private labels to compete like national brands rather than simply serve as generic substitutes.

Kroger’s brands growing faster than national brands

Kroger is seeing similar momentum.

During its latest quarter, the grocer said its own-brand sales grew faster than national-brand sales, while sales of its premium Private Selection line increased by more than 14%.

The retailer has been expanding Private Selection, Simple Truth, and Smart Way into additional categories to give shoppers options across different price points.

Private Selection has also moved beyond basic substitutes for national brands.

Kroger has introduced premium and limited-time products, including ready-to-eat meals and seasonal offerings, as it tries to build demand for products shoppers can only buy through its stores.

The strategy reflects a broader shift across the grocery industry.

Retailers increasingly want shoppers to view their private labels as brands in their own right.

Aldi shows how far private-label model can go

Aldi provides one of the direct examples of a grocery business built around that strategy.

More than 90% of the products Aldi sells are exclusive brands, according to the company.

That is far above the private-label penetration of most conventional supermarket chains.

It has allowed Aldi to maintain tight control over its assortment and pricing, something it says sets the retailer apart.

The discounter has also been refreshing its packaging and placing the Aldi name more prominently across many of its store-brand products.

For Aldi, private label is not simply another section of the grocery aisle, but a core part of how the retailer operates.

Costco helped prove model works

Costco’s Kirkland Signature remains one of the biggest examples of how powerful this model can become.

Kirkland products are exclusive to Costco and span food, household goods, apparel, and other categories.

The brand has become a major part of Costco’s value proposition because shoppers cannot buy the same products at Walmart, Kroger, or any other supermarket.

This exclusivity gives private labels an advantage that national brands cannot provide.

A shopper who develops a preference for a particular Kirkland product has to return to Costco to buy it.

Circana said club retailers are now responsible for nearly half of all private-label growth, underscoring how important store brands have become for warehouse chains.

Will shoppers go back to national brands?

High grocery prices helped accelerate private-label adoption.

But the bigger question for retailers is whether consumers will return to national brands if food inflation cools.

So far, the data suggest many will not.

FMI found that nearly all shoppers expect to continue purchasing private brands even if grocery prices decline.

Younger consumers appear particularly receptive.

60% of Gen Z shoppers and 61% of millennials said a retailer’s private-brand assortment is very or extremely important when deciding where to shop.

Inflation may have pushed consumers to experiment with less expensive alternatives.

But quality, taste, and familiarity may be helping keep those products in their carts.

National brands, however, are not disappearing from grocery shelves anytime soon.

Large consumer brands still generate substantially higher total sales and maintain strong loyalty across many categories.

But private labels now account for nearly one-quarter of U.S. CPG unit sales, giving retailers a much larger share of shoppers’ baskets than they once had.

And unlike national brands that can be sold across competing chains, Great Value, Private Selection, Kirkland, and Aldi’s exclusive brands keep customers tied to a specific retailer.

As shoppers continue watching grocery bills closely, retailers have little incentive to slow their private-label push.

What began largely as a way for consumers to save money is increasingly becoming one of the biggest battlegrounds in grocery retail.

Related: Americans are eating out less, but one restaurant chain is surging

As a consumer, there’s nothing worse than walking into a store and finding one of your favorites missing. It has happened to me countless times, when a beloved beverage, cereal, or another favorite gets discontinued.

It’s, however, a really good feeling when something that disappeared makes a comeback. Those are emotions that retail giants, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi, like to manipulate.

Coca-Cola has not been kind when it comes to getting rid of slower-selling flavors, even when they have a dedicated fanbase.

The most famous example of that is the company’s 2020 decision to stop making TaB, its first diet soda.

That inspired the SaveTaBSoda Committee, a group of fans of the diet beverage who want to force Coca-Cola to bring it back.

“We’re TaB drinkers on a mission to save our soda. The SaveTaBSoda Committee was formed in October 2020, shortly after the Coca-Cola Company announced the planned discontinuation of TaB soda,” the group shared on its website.

Coca-Cola has not given in, despite a protest at the company’s headquarters, a petition, and multiple other efforts to force the company to bring back the classic soda.

That doesn’t mean Coca-Cola never brings back a classic flavor. The company has two cult-favorite holiday sodas, and one of them was discontinued in 2021. Another was canceled in 2018, but a variation of it will make a 2026 return to shelves.

Coca-Cola Cinnamon is not coming back

Coca-Cola Cinnamon, introduced in 2019, was a limited-time offer for the Christmas season. The company trumpeted the flavor in a 2019 news release, which is no longer on the company’s website.

“Coca‑Cola also is spicing up the season with the limited-edition launch of Coca‑Cola Cinnamon, which blends the delicious taste of Coca‑Cola with a warm cinnamon flavor associated with the holidays,” the company wrote.

The company brought back Cinnamon Coke in 2020 but not in 2021. It has not returned since.

In 2023, Coca-Cola ignored a request from TheStreet for a comment on the fate of Coca-Cola Cinnamon.

Coca-Cola has discontinued many sodas over the years.Shutterstock

Coca-Cola brings back another holiday classic

In 2013, Coca-Cola introduced Sprite Cranberry for the holiday season.

“Both products take the refreshing taste of traditional Sprite and combine it with a splash of sweet and tart cranberry notes,” the company shared in a press release.

It was the first new Sprite flavor since Sprite Remix in 2005.

More Retail:

Home Depot is making a big bet on cautious consumers

Another state just banned a controversial retail pricing practice

JPMorgan just flagged a slow-build food crisis

“We’re incorporating one of the most popular flavors of the season with the No. 1 lemon-lime brand to celebrate the holidays,” Sprite Brands executive Kim Paige said at the time. “Over the years, our fans have increasingly demanded Sprite with cranberry flavor, and we’re excited to give it to them with the crisp, clear, caffeine-free, naturally flavored taste they already love about Sprite.”

That flavor was brought back every year seasonally until 2018, when it was discontinued. In 2019, however, Coca-Cola introduced a new take on the drink, Winter Spiced Cranberry.

“Coca-Cola changed the classic Sprite Cranberry — which had been a holiday staple for six years — to a new warm spice- and cranberry-flavored lemon-lime soda. The holiday Sprite became an immediate favorite,” Allrecipes reported.

While the new variant has appeared every year since the old one was killed, Coca-Cola had not commented on whether it will return this year. Several social media accounts that track beverage releases have, however, confirmed the return.

“Holiday soda season is coming very soon! Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla and Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry are both set to return in mid-October 2026, including Zero Sugar options,” Snackwire reported.

All Things Hallows, which covers seasonal product releases, also reported on the return.

“Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry: The seasonal favorite returns in Original and Zero Sugar,” it shared on its Facebook page.

Kroger has added a page listing the returning Sprite, but it’s still showing as unavailable. Walmart also has a product listing, but it shows no stock.

Pepsi’s holiday classic can’t return

In 2023, Pepsi discontinued a holiday favorite by killing the entire brand it was part of.

PepsiCo dropped its entire Sierra Mist product line. That meant Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash was quietly killed as the company replaced Sierra Mist with Starry as its lemon-lime soda. 

It won’t prevent Pepsi from offering a seasonal flavor this winter, according to Sodaseekers, a top Instagram page covering the beverage industry.

“The newest Pepsi holiday innovation is almost here! The product images seen here came from an official database, confirming this release,” the Instagram page wrote next to pictures of Pepsi Vanilla & Cream, in full and Zero Sugar.

It will be released in October and is expected at all Pepsi retailers, the site reported.

Sporked also confirmed that Pepsi would be releasing a Vanilla & Cream flavor.

Related: Kroger pulls a gas perk as pump prices set a September record

Some businesses sell products that customers already understand. Others have to explain before they can explain why they’re the right choice.