The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

1050 ET - Investors are primarily looking for three things out of AutoZone's upcoming earnings report, Morgan Stanley analysts say in a research note. First, they want to see comparable sales growth of 2.5% or higher, which would support confidence in the company's top-line stabilization. Investors will also want to see expense growth at the low-end of the company's recent rate, and clearer productivity gains from newer stores and investments, the analysts say. All of these metrics appear to be achievable, meaning a re-rating could be forthcoming, they add. The Morgan Stanley note echoes the view of UBS analysts, who a day earlier said AutoZone's upcoming earnings readout could mark an inflection point for the stock. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

1045 ET - Qatar leads most major Gulf stocks lower, with the QE Index falling 1.4%, while Abu Dhabi's benchmark index declines 0.2% and the Dubai Financial Market General Index bucks the trend, rising 0.7%. The divergence across Gulf equities largely reflects sector composition, positioning and market-specific exposures, says Mazen Abou Ismail, head of trading desk at FFA Private Bank Dubai. Qatar's financial-heavy market makes it particularly sensitive to pressure on banks and broader geopolitical risk, while Dubai is benefiting from more diversified corporate exposure. Abu Dhabi remains relatively defensive, though its banks are facing some pressure, he says. (farhan.rafid@wsj.com)

1034 ET - Amazon boosted its minimum starting wage to $20 an hour for its full-time core operations employees in the U.S., workers who handle tasks like sorting, packing and transporting orders. The increase could put pressure on other employers to invest in raises for their low-wage workers. Walmart, another retail and grocery giant that similarly employs a swath of hourly workers in the U.S., pays its team associates a rate that starts at $14 an hour, and its average U.S. hourly frontline associate makes more than $18.50 an hour, according to the company's website.(kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

1033 ET - Amazon is raising the minimum starting wage for U.S. full-time core operations employees by $1 an hour, to $20 hourly. The increase comes just before the peak holiday shopping season, when the e-commerce company typically goes on a hiring spree to ensure it can handle a flood of online orders. The company hasn't yet detailed its seasonal hiring plans for this year, but last year it said it planned to hire 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions throughout its fulfillment and transportation network across the U.S. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

1010 ET - August's retail sales were stronger than July's, rising 1.2%. However, a late Labor Day this year could push some store sales into the next retail sales print. Spending recovered from declines in gasoline station receipts and motor vehicle sales as promotional calendar distortions faded, wrote analysts at William Blair. "These tailwinds were partly offset by an unusually late Labor Day, which delayed portions of the back-to-school shopping season and likely shifted some spending into September," they wrote. (jessica.coacci@wsj.com)

1006 ET - Costco's core earnings results could again fall short of Wall Street forecasts, Oppenheimer analysts say in a research note. Current consensus estimates seem to represent the best-case scenario, assuming that management will deliver on plans to rein in expenses and that excess fuel profits won't be reinvested into the business, the analysts say. As for the stock, the analysts add that "although we view current levels as an attractive entry point, we would be positioned to take advantage of any weakness vs. playing for a positive catalyst on the print." Costco is slated to report F4Q results next week. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

0950 ET - French insurer Axa is on course to improve its valuation by integrating artificial intelligence faster than rivals, Citi's James Shuck writes. "We remain very positive on the Axa share story and expect the company to rerate as it continues to deliver low volatility, diverse growth in the context of contained controllable cost inflation," Shuck says. Citi has a buy rating on the stock and a 50.40-euro target price. Shares are up 0.7% at 43.96 euros and are 7.3% higher over the year to date. (joseph.wilkins@wsj.com)

0937 ET - Tesco and Sainsbury's buybacks for fiscal 2027 are moving faster than a linear pace, J.P. Morgan analysts say in a note. Tesco is nearly three-quarters of the way through its buyback with around seven months left, the analysts said. Both U.K. grocers will be able to top up buybacks while staying within their ideal leverage ranges, the analysts add. Of the two, an upgrade is more likely for Tesco. If its buybacks continue at current pace, they will likely conclude ahead of schedule, the analysts say. Tesco shares are down 0.86% at 475.40 pence. (aimee.look@wsj.com)

0932 ET - For consumer-facing industries, nostalgia is all the rage. Restaurants are no exception, Morgan Stanley analysts say in a note. People are returning to the mall, and brands continue to tap into 90s culture, the analysts say. "Maybe even casual dining itself is doing better as millennials return to past favorites and new generations discover the category," they say. While the trend will shift eventually, the analysts say cycles can be long. "We wouldn't fight this," they say. The analysts speculate that the trend could be driven by a desire for in-person service and interaction. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

0925 ET - People are still flocking to full-service restaurants even as they scale back on eating out elsewhere, Morgan Stanley analysts say in a note. Spending on experiences generally seems to be strong, the analysts say. "It may also be that people want good service," they say. "For more transactional QSR occasions, it's easier to discard those." As a result, more quick-service restaurants seem to be bringing back hospitality, something that's easy to lose sight of over concerns about high labor costs, they say. "This probably also explains the lack of classic trade down dynamics in restaurants today--customers are picky but not primarily price shopping when they do buy," they say. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

0915 ET - Dollarama's Australian business generated revenue of C$184.8 million, but its integration is still acting as a drag on broader earnings in 2Q. The segment recorded a loss of C$13.8 million, creating a C$0.05 drag on total earnings per share. It's also operating on a lower gross-margin profile of 32.4%, compared with Canada's 45.7%, which dragged on overall gross margins by 110 basis points. However the integration continues. The company renovated 25 stores and opened four net new stores in the country, bringing the total number of stores with Dollarama's layout and fixtures to 60 locations out of 414 total stores there. Dollarama expects a net loss for the Australian segment in fiscal 2027 as it continues the transition. (adriano.marchese@wsj.com)

0913 ET - J.B. Hunt Transport Services now expects 3Q earnings to decline 5% to 10% sequentially from 2Q. The forecast comes as intermodal pricing has struggled to keep pace with rapidly rising costs, Morgan Stanley analysts say in a research note. The logistics company says it expects roughly $25 million in incremental driver-related costs this quarter, as it ramps up hiring, implements sign-on bonuses and institutes pay raises. At the same time, J.B. Hunt anticipates a nearly $10 million sequential fuel headwind, alongside higher claims costs. Morgan Stanley analysts note, though, that these higher costs should be at least partially offset by improving volumes. J.B. Hunt slides 10% premarket.