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REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - Retailers like Amazon.com and Foot Locker are signaling optimism for holiday season sales after stronger-than-expected figures during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as heavy discounts lured budget-strained customers on the peak U.S. shopping days. Early estimates on holiday shopping have been encouraging to some investors after retailers sounded cautious notes in the lead-up to the season. "We know we're buying for wallet share with a value-conscious consumer this holiday season. Deep discounts have been a key feature heading into this year's holiday shopping season and holiday discounts could get even bigger in December, according to some retail executives. Kohl's (KSS.N) CEO Tom Kingsbury said last week the company was "coming out on holiday very aggressively in terms of promotions."

Persons: Mike Segar, Jimmy Lee, we've, Mary Dillon, Tom Kingsbury, Cos, Jason Benowitz, Deborah Sophia, Juby Babu, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, Adobe Analytics, National Retail Federation, Wealth Consulting, Amazon, Black, BofA, Walmart, Abercrombie, Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Roosevelt, Thomson Locations: Robbinsville , New Jersey, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ US Thanksgiving weekend sales hit record $38 bln on big discounts - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shoppers crowd a Walmart store ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. November 27, 2019. Online consumer spending jumped 7.8% during Cyber Week, or the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, according to data from Adobe Analytics, outstripping initial expectations for a 5.4% rise. But blockbuster deals rolled out from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday helped spread the holiday cheer for bargain-hunters. Sales on Cyber Monday jumped a better-than-expected 9.6% to a record $12.4 billion, as shoppers clicked "buy" on Hot Wheels toys, PlayStation 5, smart watches and kitchen appliances. Reuters GraphicsAdobe said discounts peaked at 31% for electronics and at 27% for toys on Cyber Monday, which is typically the biggest online shopping day in the U.S.

Persons: Kamil Krzaczynski, Vivek Pandya, trouncing, Klarna, Deborah Sophia, Juby Babu, Pooja Desai Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Adobe Analytics, Deloitte, Adobe Digital, Graphics Adobe, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Bengaluru

Nov 28 (Reuters) - Spending online on Cyber Monday is set to exceed $12 billion, a record, as bargain hunters snap up deals on items including Barbie dolls, Lego sets, headphones and smart watches, according to preliminary estimates from Adobe Digital Insights. The estimate projects U.S. shoppers will spend $12 billion-$12.4 billion on Cyber Monday, the biggest U.S. online shopping day. At the top end, this would represent an 9.7% increase compared to the $11.3 billion spent on Cyber Monday last year. Walmart, eager to capture market share, slashed prices on Sunday night, joining the trend of retailers' early discounts on major shopping days. On Monday, Walmart stepped up discounts on some clothing to 60%, up from the 50% it offered on Black Friday.

Persons: Barbie, Nancy Tengler, Eduardo Munoz, Matthew Katz, Charles Sizemore, Sizemore, Siddharth Cavale, Deborah Sophia, Aishwarya Venogupal, Ananya Mariam Rajesh, David Gregorio, Nick Zieminski, Matthew Lewis, Lincoln Organizations: Adobe Digital, Retailers, Adobe Analytics, Investments, Shoppers, Workers, REUTERS, SSA & Company, Walmart, Sizemore Capital Management, Target, Graphics, Insider Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Scottsdale , Arizona, United States, Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, U.S, New York, Bengaluru

☆ US Thanksgiving weekend sales hit record on big discounts, online boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

More than 200 million shoppers tapped into promotions both in-store and online during the Thanksgiving weekend, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said on Tuesday. That was a jump from the 196 million shoppers seen last year and trumped the trade association's estimates of 182 million. Online shoppers rose 3.1% to 134.2 million, making up for a slight dip in the number of customers who visited brick-and-mortar stores. The weekend saw about 121.4 million in-store shoppers, down from 122.7 million in 2022, according to the retail body. Adobe said discounts peaked at 31% for electronics and at 27% for toys on Cyber Monday, which is typically the biggest online shopping day in the U.S.

Persons: Kamil Krzaczynski, Matthew Shay, Vivek Pandya, trouncing, Klarna, Deborah Sophia, Juby Babu, Pooja Desai Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Adobe Analytics, Deloitte, National Retail Federation, Shoppers, Adobe Digital, Adobe, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Bengaluru

Spending online on Cyber Monday is set to reach as much as $12.4 billion, according to Adobe Digital Insights, which tracks data through Adobe's Experience Cloud service for e-commerce platforms. Last-minute shoppers on Monday could spend $4 billion between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. EST alone, it said. Other firms use different measurements to gauge purchases on Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year in the United States. Salesforce, which tracks data flowing through its Commerce Cloud e-commerce service, said online sales on Cyber Monday were up by 4% by 4 p.m. EST, hitting $7 billion by late afternoon. Walmart, eager to capture market share, slashed prices on Sunday night, joining the trend of retailers' early discounts on major shopping days.

Persons: Salesforce, Eduardo Munoz, Brian Yacktman, Charles Sizemore, Sizemore, Siddharth Cavale, Deborah Sophia, Aishwarya Venogupal, Ananya Mariam Rajesh, David Gregorio, Nick Zieminski, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Adobe Digital, Adobe, Commerce, Shoppers, Workers, REUTERS, YCG Investments, Nike, Black, Sizemore Capital Management, Walmart, Amazon, Graphics, Insider Intelligence, Thomson Locations: United States, Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, U.S, New York, Bengaluru

NEW YORK, Nov 27 (Reuters) - A record amount of price-pinched holiday shoppers are expected to use buy now, pay later services for Cyber Monday to relieve stress on their wallets, according to Adobe Analytics. [1/2]A worker sorts products during Cyber Monday at the Amazon's fulfillment center in Robbinsville, New Jersey, U.S., November 27, 2023. The buy now, pay later firm saw a 29% increase in orders placed by U.S. shoppers on Black Friday, with some of the most popular items being personal electronics, televisions and kitchen appliances. It's become really, really, really popular," said Dan Dolev, an analyst at Mizuho Securities. Average basket sizes for buy now, pay later orders on Black Friday declined 32% compared to last year, according to a report from Quantum Metric, a sign that shoppers aren't making as big of purchases this year.

Persons: Klarna, BNPL, Mike Segar, It's, Dan Dolev, Arriana McLymore, Deborah Sophia, Juveria Tabassum, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Adobe Analytics, Shoppers, REUTERS, Mizuho Securities, Black, Thomson Locations: Robbinsville , New Jersey, U.S, New York City, Bengaluru

☆ Lowe's sees steeper drop in annual sales as DIY demand stumbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mark Makela/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos (LOW.N) on Tuesday projected a bigger drop in annual same-store sales than previously expected, as inflation-hit consumers cut spending on home-improvement projects, hitting the company's key do-it-yourself (DIY) business segment. Lowe's saw a "greater-than-expected pullback in DIY discretionary spending" particularly in categories including appliances, home decor, kitchen and bath where customers even postponed some purchases, CEO Marvin Ellison said. Average spending at Lowe's - particularly on big-ticket items - was under pressure in the quarter, resulting in a 7.4% drop in same-store sales while analysts expected a 5% decline, according to LSEG IBES data. Meanwhile, larger rival Home Depot's (HD.N) bigger customer base of "Pro-customers" like builders and contractors helped the retailer ride out the weakness in DIY spending and beat expectations for quarterly results. It expects full-year comparable sales to decline 5%, compared with its prior outlook for a 2% to 4% drop.

Persons: Mark Makela, Cos, Lowe's, Marvin Ellison, Ellison, John Tomlinson, Deborah Sophia, Anil D'Silva Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, U.S, Lowe's, Bengaluru

☆ Home Depot leans on small projects to top estimates as big-ticket spending wobbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Americans have put big renovations and discretionary home-improvement projects on the back burner as they battle sticky inflation, higher interest rates and lingering caution around the economy. "We see great (customer) engagement... with smaller projects," CEO Ted Decker said on an earnings call. Per-share profit of $3.81 topped estimates of $3.76. "With continued pressure in certain big-ticket discretionary categories and a trend to smaller projects, HD took the conservative approach – which we agree with," Evercore analyst Greg Melich said. It now expects annual per-share profit to fall 9% to 11%, compared with a 7% to 13% slump estimated previously.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Ted Decker, Sarah Henry, Henry, Greg Melich, Deborah Sophia, Sriraj Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Logan Capital Management, Home Depot, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, Bengaluru

☆ Home Depot, Lowe's may signal more pain from muted consumer spending, housing demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 13 (Reuters) - Wall Street is bracing for another quarter of weak sales from U.S. home improvement chains Home Depot (HD.N) and Lowe's (LOW.N) as demand remained under pressure from uneven consumer spending and a subdued housing market. Expectations have been revised roughly 17% lower for Home Depot's same-store sales for the third quarter compared to early September, LSEG data showed, while estimates for Lowe's have come down about 19% during the same period. Key demand indicators - such as category sales figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and home sales - pointed to a sequential softening in the home improvement industry in the quarter, analysts said. "Most likely, a recovery won't be in sight until the second half of 2024," UBS analyst Michael Lasser said. U.S. existing home sales dropped to a 13-year low in September, weighed by rising mortgage rates and tight supply.

Persons: Michael Lasser, Wells, J.P, Morgan, Christopher Horvers, Stocks, Deborah Sophia, Sriraj Organizations: Lowe's, U.S . Census Bureau, UBS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, Wells Fargo, Bengaluru

☆ Burger King drags sales at parent Restaurant Brands as spending softens
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The Burger King company logo stands on a sign outside a restaurant in Bretigny-sur-Orge, near Paris, France, July 30, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier Acquire Licensing RightsNov 3 (Reuters) - Restaurant Brands International (QSR.TO) missed market estimates for quarterly sales on Friday as lingering inflation pinched spending at its Burger King chain, eclipsing higher demand for Tim Hortons coffees and Popeyes chicken wings. Shares of the Canada-based company fell 4%, as executives said Burger King would increase advertising and store investments under an ongoing turnaround plan, setting it up for higher costs in the current quarter. Burger King has "made a lot of progress ... but there's still a very long way from where we are to where we want to be. Total revenue at Restaurant Brands rose to $1.84 billion, but missed estimates of $1.87 billion.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Tim Hortons, Burger, Sante Faustini III, Burger King, Josh Kobza, Footfall, there's, Kobza, Deborah Sophia, Devika Organizations: Burger King, REUTERS, Brands, Reuters, Restaurant Brands, Thomson Locations: Bretigny, Paris, France, Canada, U.S, Burger, Bengaluru

☆ McDonald's beats sales estimates as cheaper menu, new launches drive demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The McDonald's company logo stands on a sign outside a restaurant in Bretigny-sur-Orge, near Paris, France, July 30, 2020. Global comparable sales at McDonald's jumped 8.8% in the quarter ended Sept. 30, while analysts on average expected a 7.36% rise, according to LSEG data. While overall dining traffic fell in all three months of the quarter, McDonald's saw a 7.3% jump in July, data from Placer.ai showed. U.S. comparable sales climbed 8.1% in the quarter, beating estimates of a 7.4% increase, thanks also to higher average spending at stores. Meanwhile, same-store sales in McDonald's international operated markets increased 8.3%, edging past expectations for 8.03% growth.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, McDonald's, Deborah Sophia, Sriraj Organizations: REUTERS, McDonald's, UBS, Thomson Locations: Bretigny, Paris, France, Placer.ai, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Weight-loss drug worries add to US restaurants' weak traffic woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Investors' knee-jerk reaction to those comments sent the under-pressure S&P 500 restaurants index (.SPLRCREST) down 1.3% at the time. THE FUNDAMENTALS** On Thursday, Chipotle is expected to report a 4.5% increase in Q3 same-store sales, according to LSEG data, slower both on a year-over-year and a sequential basis. Profit likely rose about 18%. WALL STREET SENTIMENT** The S&P 500 restaurant sub-index (.SPLRCREST) has risen just 0.4% year-to-date, lagging a more than 10% jump in the benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX). Growth in top restaurant stocks has broadly lagged the benchmark S&P 500 indexReporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Peter Saleh, Taco Bell, Wells, Chipotle, Deborah Sophia, Savio D'Souza Organizations: REUTERS, KFC, Yum Brands, Walmart, Conagra, Taco, WALL, Thomson Locations: New York, McDonald's, Wells Fargo, Bengaluru

☆ Chipotle quarterly results shine as burrito cravings defy high prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] People are served in a Chipotle outlet in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., February 7, 2022. Chipotle said it has not seen any material impact from weight-loss drugs. While consumers taking weight-loss treatments consume fewer calories, "it's important the calories they do consume are coming from clean food. Chipotle forecast fourth-quarter comparable sales growth in the mid- to high-single-digit range, compared with estimates of a 5.38% rise. Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Brian Niccol, Chipotle, Sante Faustini III, we're, Niccol, Deborah Sophia, Krishna Chandra Eluri Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, California, Bengaluru

☆ P&G tops profit estimates on pricing boost, resilient demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Timothy Aeppel/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 18 (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble (PG.N) topped market expectations for quarterly sales and profit on Wednesday, benefiting from higher prices as well as steady demand for its personal care products and cleaning supplies. While P&G's moves to consistently raise prices over the past several months have dented sales volumes with some cost-conscious shoppers turning to cheaper alternatives, the benefits from higher prices have helped bolster its profits. Gross margin improved 460 basis points to 52% in the quarter ended Sept. 30 and the company kept its annual profit outlook despite expectations for a $1 billion after-tax impact from unfavorable foreign exchange rates. P&G now expects sales growth to be in the range of 2%-4% for fiscal 2024, compared to its prior estimate of a 3%-4% rise, owing to currency fluctuations. Per-share profit of $1.83 per share also beat expectations of $1.72.

Persons: Timothy Aeppel, Andre Schulten, they're, Jason Benowitz, Deborah Sophia Organizations: Procter, REUTERS, Procter & Gamble, Gillette, Roosevelt, Thomson Locations: Tabler Station, West Virginia, U.S, Bengaluru

[1/2] A jogger wearing Nike shoes runs along the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., March 18, 2019. Nike has also experienced competition from other sneaker brands, including Deckers' (DECK.N) Hoka, On Running (ONON.N) and French-owned sports retailer Salomon, as shoppers gravitate toward "performance" shoes. Nike CEO John Donahoe said the company would turn its attention to "prioritizing the everyday runner" and connecting with shoppers in more channels, including specialty running stores. The company posted total revenue of $12.94 billion in the quarter, missing analysts' estimates of $12.98 billion. Nike reported a profit of $1.45 billion, or 94 cents per share, beating estimates of 75 cents per share.

Persons: Charles, Brian Snyder, Matthew Friend, Friend, Jordan, Salomon, Dylan Dittrich, John Donahoe, David Swartz, Deborah Sophia, Katherine Masters, Shounak Dasgupta, Jamie Freed Organizations: Nike, REUTERS, Air, Jordan, Insights, Morningstar, Thomson Locations: Cambridge , Massachusetts, U.S, Kobe, Bengaluru, New York

☆ Starbucks' former CEO Schultz to retire from board
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks during his book tour in Seattle, Washington, U.S., January 31, 2019. In March, Schultz defended himself and the company against allegations of "union busting" at a U.S. Senate committee hearing. Schultz, 70, stepped down as CEO in March after he returned to the helm for the third time. He oversaw a major revamp in technology at Starbucks' stores during his latest stint, doubling down on equipment and employee training to improve service. Other members on the board include Microsoft (MSFT.O) CEO Satya Nadella and former Domino's Pizza (DPZ.N) boss Richard Allison.

Persons: Howard Schultz, Jason Redmond, Schultz, Stephens, Joshua Long, Wei Zhang, Zhang, Satya Nadella, Richard Allison, Deborah Sophia, Sriraj Organizations: Starbucks, REUTERS, U.S, Wall Street, Alibaba, Alibaba Pictures, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Seattle , Washington , U.S, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ U.S. food companies go deal hunting as pandemic growth fades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Last month, Campbell Soup (CPB.N) struck a $2.7 billion deal for Rao's sauce maker Sovos Brands (SOVO.O). Reuters GraphicsReuters Graphics Reuters Graphics"Large food companies need to add more new concepts, new flavor profiles and new food items because their old brands - though still growing - are not growing at a meaningful rate," Milani said. Packaged food companies "are now faced with some difficult comparisons on organic (sales) and are seeking some strategic, category-specific M&A targets that will propel them through the next few years," Henry said. "Most of the large cap packaged food companies have ... diligently reduced their debt and improved their balance sheet (through the pandemic)...so they have the risk capacity and risk appetite to pursue large-scale acquisitions," CFRA Research analyst Arun Sundaram said. "These packaged food companies need to continue finding ways to stay relevant ... And so one of the easiest ways to do that is through M&A."

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Campbell, There's, Michael Milani, Baker Tilly, Milani, Kraft Heinz, Sarah Henry, Henry, Mills, Luca Zaramella, Hershey, J.P, Morgan, Arun Sundaram, Deborah Sophia, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Campbell Soup, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Sovos, Unilever, Mars, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Logan Capital Management, PepsiCo, Mondelez, Barclays, Hostess Brands, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, North America, dealmaking, Bengaluru

☆ A mixed picture for retailers as bargain-hunting shoppers pick their spots
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A sale sign greets shoppers at a retail store in Carlsbad, California, U.S., May 25, 2023. Sephora "performed exceptionally well" with strength in North America in the first half of the year, the beauty retailer's owner LVMH (LVMH.PA) said last month. Retailers have also flagged the impact from Americans prioritizing experiences like movies, vacations and concerts over discretionary purchases. Tempered forecasts from sportswear retailers Foot Locker (FL.N) and Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS.N) also added to the mixed picture, with Dick's also citing an increase in organized retail crime and theft at stores. Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Edward Jones, Brian Yarbrough, LVMH, Yarbrough, Dick's, Corie Barry, Liza Amlani, We've, Christina Hennington, Deborah Sophia, Sriraj Organizations: REUTERS, Ross Stores, Walmart, Dick's Sporting, Electronics, U.S . Labor Department, Thomson Locations: Carlsbad , California, U.S, North America, Bengaluru

Aug 24 - Subway has agreed to sell itself to private equity firm Roark Capital in a deal valuing the sandwich chain at more than $9 billion, sources said, ending a long-drawn auction that saw several bids from buyout firms. The deal will make Roark Capital one of the largest restaurant operators in the world. It controls Inspire Brands, the owner of restaurant chains including Jimmy John's, Arby's, Baskin-Robbins and Buffalo Wild Wings. Subway said in February it was exploring a possible sale, drawing interest from private equity firms including Roark, Advent International, TDR Capital and TPG as well as Goldman Sachs' asset management arm. The restaurant chain had then hoped to fetch more than $10 billion, owing to its strong brand and international business.

Persons: Roark, Jimmy John's, Neil Saunders, GlobalData, Goldman Sachs, Anirban Sen, Deborah Sophia, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Roark Capital, TDR, Sycamore Partners, Brands, Baskin, Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Subway, Advent, TDR Capital, TPG, Thomson Locations: U.S, North America, New York, Bengaluru

These conditions, known as an earn-out, defer payment on part of the deal consideration, the sources familiar with the matter said. The arrangement helped bridge a gap in the valuation expectations between Roark Capital and the DeLuca and Buck families that own Subway, according to the sources. The deal will make Roark Capital one of the largest restaurant operators in the world. Subway said in February it was exploring a possible sale, drawing interest from private equity firms including Roark, Advent International, TDR Capital and TPG as well as Goldman Sachs' asset management arm. Roark and Subway have 12 months to close the deal, which has a 4% breakup fee, sources said.

Persons: Roark, DeLuca, Buck, Jimmy John's, Neil Saunders, GlobalData, Goldman Sachs, Anirban Sen, Abigail Summerville, Deborah Sophia, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Roark Capital, TDR, Sycamore Partners, Brands, Baskin, Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Subway, Advent, TDR Capital, TPG, Thomson Locations: U.S, North America, New York, Bengaluru

Reuters reported on Tuesday on a so-called earn-out agreement that was key to Roark clinching a deal for Subway. Roark prevailed over a rival bidding group led by buyout firms TDR Capital and Sycamore Partners, whose final offer was for $8.75 billion including an earn-out, and $8.25 billion without, the sources said. Roark took the view that the restaurant market is too fragmented for the deal to raise competition concerns, the sources added. Roark and Subway, which announced the deal on Thursday, declined to comment on the terms. Roark currently controls Inspire Brands, the owner of restaurant chains including Jimmy John's, Arby's, Baskin-Robbins and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Persons: Roark, DeLuca, Buck, John's, Jimmy John’s, Jimmy John's, Neil Saunders, Peter Buck, Fred DeLuca, JPMorgan Chase, Sullivan, Cromwell, Weiss, Garrison, Roark Capital, Morgan Stanley, Anirban Sen, Abigail Summerville, Deborah Sophia, Greg Roumeliotis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Roark, Reuters, Subway, TDR Capital, Sycamore Partners, Inspire Brands, Baskin, Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, JPMorgan, Cromwell LLP, Thomson Locations: Connecticut, U.S, Bridgeport , Connecticut, The Milford , Connecticut, Rifkind, Wharton, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Abercrombie & Fitch raises sales forecast as new clothing styles attract shoppers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A person carries a bag from the Abercrombie & Fitch store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., February 27, 2017. Revenue from the Abercrombie brand rose 26% in the quarter, while that from Hollister recorded its first growth, with an 8% rise, following a decline in the past five quarters. Abercrombie now expects fiscal 2023 net sales to rise around 10%, compared with its prior forecast range of 2% to 4% growth. Its per-share profit of $1.10, for the three months ended July 29, crushed estimates of 17 cents, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta AgarwalOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Abercrombie, Fran Horowitz, Rachel Wolff, They've, Wolff, Hollister, Deborah Sophia, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: Abercrombie, Fitch, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Lowe's tops quarterly estimates, CEO says consumer sentiment improving
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Shoppers load a box of merchandise into a truck after visiting a Lowe's hardware store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 4, 2020. REUTERS/Mark Makela/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Consumer sentiment turning more positive - CEOLowe's to outperform home improvement market in H2 2023Shares up 3.4%Aug 22 (Reuters) - Lowe's (LOW.N) said on Tuesday consumer sentiment was improving after it topped Wall Street estimates for quarterly profit and comparable sales, as sustained spending on smaller projects countered a broader lull in the home-improvement sector. Lowe's said disposable income at U.S. households started to improve over the past quarter, which is boding well for the industry. "We started to see consumer sentiment turn more positive on the Do-It-Yourself customer side... What we're looking for now is just that the (sentiment improvement sustains)," CEO Marvin Ellison said in an interview. Lowe's second-quarter per-share earnings of $4.56 also topped estimates of $4.49, driven by falling lumber prices and tighter cost management.

Persons: Mark Makela, Lowe's, Marvin Ellison, Ellison, Joe Feldman, Deborah Sophia, Shinjini Organizations: REUTERS, Home, Pro, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, U.S, North Carolina, Bengaluru

☆ Farfetch shares plunge as weak demand in US, China slams 2023 outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Branding for online fashion house Farfetch is seen at the company headquarters in London, Britain January 31, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville Acquire Licensing RightsAug 18 (Reuters) - Shares of Farfetch (FTCH.N) slumped nearly 40% to a record low on Friday, as choppy demand in the online luxury goods retailer's top two markets, the United States and China, drove a gloomy annual sales outlook. Farfetch projected total gross merchandise value, or the total dollar value of orders processed - a key revenue metric - to be about $4.4 billion for 2023, compared with prior expectations of $4.9 billion. As of Thursday's close, Farfetch had a market capitalization of about $1.68 billion, per Refinitiv data. Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toby Melville, Farfetch, José Neves, Morgan, Keybanc, Oliver Chen, Cowen, Marvin Fong, Fong, Deborah Sophia, Krishna Chandra Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, United States, China, U.S, Mainland China, J.P, Bengaluru

☆ Home Depot rides on smaller remodeling projects to top sales, profit estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jim Young/File PhotoAug 15 (Reuters) - Home Depot (HD.N) on Tuesday reported a smaller-than-expected drop in quarterly same-store sales and topped profit estimates, as Americans spending on small-scale projects countered a pause in larger home remodeling and renovation work. "While there was strength in categories associated with smaller projects, we did see continued pressure in certain big-ticket, discretionary categories," Home Depot CEO Ted Decker said in a statement. Customer transactions fell for the ninth straight quarter, down 1.8% in the second quarter, but smaller than the 4.8% fall in the first quarter. Comparable sales fell 2% in the quarter, while analysts had expected a 3.54% drop, according to Refinitiv IBES data. "Whether the bottoming in the housing market would translate to sales or not - that's where there is caution from investors," Feldman said.

Persons: Jim Young, Ted Decker, Depot's, Wells, Joe Feldman, Feldman, Deborah Sophia, Sriraj Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Walmart, Home, Advisory, Thomson Locations: Niles , Illinois, Bengaluru

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