Target Corp

NYSE:TGTUnited States

By Sarah Nassauer and Theo Francis

A new kind of shareholder activism is rattling companies: "anti-woke" agitators.

Shareholders at dozens of big companies, from GE Aerospace to UPS, are voting on proposals opposing environmental and social initiatives this year. Investors backed by conservative groups are suing Target and other companies for their progressive stances. And companies are muting their focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as DEI programs come under legal and political threat.

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. (BJ) said Tuesday it's expanding same-day delivery to include big-ticket items, including outdoor furniture, grills, televisions and more. "Our goal is to provide as much value to our members as possible. With same-day delivery, we're able to not only provide competitive everyday low prices, but we can save members time by delivering the order in just a few hours," said Monica Schwartz, executive vice president and chief digital officer at BJ's. the Marlborough, Mass.-based company said that for a fee, its members can now enjoy same-day delivery of essentials, from groceries to outdoor furniture, at the same prices available in-club. The news comes at a time when retailers are stretching to find ways to attract shoppers stressed by a long period of inflation, who have become highly selective in their purchasing. Many have taken to discounting items, especially essentials. Target (TGT), for example, is lowering prices on 5,000 items, Walmart (WMT) is running sales on 7,000 products and Amazon Fresh (AMZN) is discounting 4,000 grocery items. BJ's stock was not yet active premarket, but has gained 34% in the year to date, while the S&P 500 has gained 12%.