To be sure, late payments don't always signal financial troubles. Creditsafe spokesperson Ragini Bhalla said payment data is only one factor the firm considers when assessing a company's financial health. Though the data "doesn't represent a company's total trading behavior, analysis has proven that it is hugely predictive of a company's financial health and creditworthiness," Bhalla said. "When the number of late payments increases like this, it's often indicative of financial challenges and poor cash flow forecasting," Creditsafe said. While Saks often made late payments last year, its on-time payments have dropped significantly since October 2023, the firm said.

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Persons: Saul Loeb, Perry Mandarino, Mandarino, Creditsafe, Ragini Bhalla, Bhalla, Barry McCarthy, Simeon Siegel, Siegel, he's, Peloton's DPO, Marc Metrick, Metrick, Mark Still, Stewart Glendinning, Tim Baxter Organizations: Saks, Washington , D.C, AFP, Getty, Bed, RadioShack, CNBC, Retailers, Body, Body Works, Riley Securities, BMO Capital Markets, Business of Fashion, HBC, Express, Street, Creditsafe, Economic Security, IRS, New York Stock Exchange, Bath Locations: Washington ,, Express, Creditsafe, U.S