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☆ Best Buy forecasts annual profit below estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 2 (Reuters) - Top U.S. electronics retailer Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) on Thursday joined peers with a cautious forecast for annual earnings as uncertainty over the U.S. economic outlook tempers expectations for a recovery in discretionary products demand. Higher U.S. consumer prices have raised fears that the U.S. Federal Reserve could further lift borrowing costs to cool demand, prompting Walmart (WMT.N), Target Corp (TGT.N) and other retailers to issue conservative forecasts. Best Buy said it expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings per share of $5.70 to $6.50, compared with analysts' estimates of $6.71, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Comparable sales decreased 9.3% in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 28, compared with analysts' estimates of a 9.2% fall. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Best Buy forecasts profit below estimates as electronics demand weakens
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 2 (Reuters) - Top U.S. electronics retailer Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) on Thursday joined peers with a cautious annual earnings forecast as uncertainty over the U.S. economy tempers expectations for a recovery in demand for discretionary products. The company's shares slipped 1.6%, despite a beat on holiday quarter revenue and profit estimates as steep discounts attracted inflation-weary shoppers to its stores. The company expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings per share of $5.70 to $6.50, below analysts' estimates of $6.71, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. It forecast full-year comparable sales to fall 3% to 6%, compared to analysts' estimates of a 1.9% decline. On an adjusted basis, Best Buy earned $2.61 per share in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 28, beating analysts' estimates of $2.11, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

☆ Kohl's swings to surprise loss as margins crumble on steep discounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 1 (Reuters) - Kohl's Corp (KSS.N) reported a surprise quarterly loss and forecast full-year profit well below analysts' estimates on Wednesday, as steep discounts to boost sluggish demand for apparel shredded the retailer's margins. Those discounts were the major contributor to a more than 10 percentage point decline in fourth-quarter gross margins to 23%, Kohl's said. Kohl's reported a loss of $2.49 per share for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 28, compared with estimates for a profit of 98 cents. Comparable sales at Kohl's fell 6.6% in the fourth quarter, compared with analysts' estimate of a 3.7% decrease. Separately, apparel maker Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF.N) also missed holiday quarter earnings estimates on Wednesday, hit by higher costs of cotton.

☆ Target fends off holiday gloom with discounts, warns on 2023 earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Uday Sampath Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The big-box retailer forecast full-year earnings of $7.75 to $8.75 per share, below analysts' estimates of $9.23, according to Refinitiv data. The company's comparable sales in the quarter ended in Jan. 28 rose 0.7%, while analysts had expected a 1.5% fall. Target in November had forecast fourth-quarter comparable sales to fall by about a low single-digit percentage, saying it was a witnessing a "precipitous decline" in discretionary demand. Excluding items, Target earned $1.89 per share in the fourth quarter, beating estimates of $1.40 per share. The company said it expects full-year comparable sales in a wide range from a low-single digit decline to a low-single digit increase.

NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Retailers have a new sweet spot: products that cost $3 to $5. Target said on Tuesday that it would be stocking its shelves with more products priced under $10 as the retailer tries to appeal to more cost-conscious consumers dealing with once-in-a-generation inflation. This comes a little more than a year after dollar store chain Dollar Tree (DLTR.O) said it would launch more discretionary products including seasonal items and apparel priced between the $3 and $5. Many, including high-income households, are buying more store-label brands as budgets stretch in the face of higher interest rates. Target said it plans to launch or expand more than 10 owned brands, adding thousands of new products.

☆ 'Stubborn' food inflation leaves U.S. shoppers with slim appetite for other goods
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Siddharth Cavale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Higher prices on food led to soft sales of electronics, toys, home and apparel in the most recent quarter at Walmart. McMillon said he believed inflation on dry groceries and items made for immediate consumption would remain high "for a while". "Food inflation has been the most stubborn of all the categories," Walmart's U.S. CEO John Furner said. Sharp sales declines in categories other than food are forcing retailers like Target (TGT.N) to slash prices on everything from toys to electronics. While groceries comprise 56% of Walmart sales, they make up about 20% of sales at Target, which depends more on home furnishings, apparel and beauty.

☆ Walmart cautious on economy, forecasts annual earnings below estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Walmart Inc (WMT.N) forecast full-year earnings below estimates on Tuesday, saying it was cautious about the economic outlook for 2023 and that consumers were likely to continue shopping for lower-priced items that could pressure its margins. "There's still a lot of trepidation and uncertainty with the economic outlook. "So, that makes us cautious on the economic outlook because we simply don't know what we don't know." Walmart forecast fiscal 2024 earnings of $5.90 to $6.05 per share, compared with analysts' estimates of $6.50 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Still, Walmart reported strong demand in the quarter ended Jan. 31, posting total revenue of $164.05 billion, a 7.3% increase from last year.

☆ Walmart sees lower 2023 performance in time of economic uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Siddharth Cavale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"There's still a lot of trepidation and uncertainty with the economic outlook. "So, that makes us cautious on the economic outlook because we simply don't know what we don't know." Home Depot (HD.N) also forecast weaker-than-expected annual profits on Tuesday as soaring prices hit demand for home-improvement products. They want the allure of savings and Walmart provides that," said McNew, whose firm holds about 350,000 Walmart shares. Walmart signs are displayed inside a Walmart store in Mexico City, Mexico March 28, 2019.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoFeb 16 (Reuters) - Walmart Inc's (WMT.N) results on Tuesday will provide Wall Street with new details on what items American shoppers are buying as rising grocery prices squeeze their wallets. In December, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said "we do not like" that some suppliers were hinting at raising prices further in 2023. He warned that Walmart would allocate space to private and tertiary brands if prices got too high. KitKat maker Nestle on Thursday said further price hikes were necessary to offset commodity costs. Still, Wall Street expects Walmart sales and revenue to rise in 2023 as its shipping and logistics costs moderate, even as labor expenses go up.

☆ Gautam Adani will be playing defense for a while after mauling by Hindenburg
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The sprawling Adani Group, which he founded over 30 years ago, has established interests in industries ranging from logistics to mining. “We view this as validation of our findings on offshore stock parking by Adani,” Hindenburg founder Nate Anderson said on Twitter. In its report, Hindenburg had alleged that “offshore shells and funds tied to the Adani Group comprise many of the largest ‘public’ holders of Adani stock.”An Adani Group spokesperson declined to comment. Meanwhile, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, said Thursday it has “for all practical purposes…fully divested,” from the Adani companies. The loans were backed by shares in Adani Ports, Adani Green Energy and Adani Transmission.

Younger shoppers snapping up its sweatshirts, knitwear and Polo line of products also drove results beat at luxury peer Ralph Lauren Corp (RL.N). "The Coach brand has done a lot of work to reposition itself as a premium brand that appeals to a younger consumer," Raymond James analyst Rick Patel said. "Tapestry appears to be executing better for its Coach brand than Capri is for Michael Kors," Patel added. Net revenue at Ralph Lauren rose 1% to $1.83 billion in the third quarter ended Dec. 31, beating estimates of $1.76 billion. Both Tapestry and Ralph Lauren took a hit in China due to a resurgence of COVID-19 infections, but demand is returning, the companies said.

☆ Tapestry lifts profit outlook as younger shoppers snap up Coach handbags
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A handbag is seen in a Kate Spade store, owned by Tapestry, Inc., in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 19, 2021. Luxury peer Ralph Lauren Corp (RL.N) also beat expectations on strong demand from younger affluent shoppers. Meanwhile, Ralph Lauren said its brands gained market share in North America, even as its wholesale revenue decreased 2%. Net revenue at Ralph Lauren rose 1% to $1.83 billion in the third quarter ended Dec. 31, while analysts had expected $1.76 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Tapestry forecast fiscal 2023 earnings of $3.70 to $3.75 per share, compared with its prior estimate of $3.60 to $3.70.

☆ Coach owner Tapestry raises annual profit forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A handbag is seen in a Kate Spade store, owned by Tapestry, Inc., in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File PhotoFeb 9 (Reuters) - Luxury group Tapestry Inc (TPR.N) raised its annual profit forecast on Thursday, helped by resilient demand and its strategy to largely use company-owned stores and its website to sell Coach and Kate Spade bags. Shares of the company, which fell 4.5% on Wednesday following disappointing earnings and forecasts from rival Capri Holdings (CPRI.N), rose 2% in premarket trading. Total revenue fell 5% to $2.03 billion in the second quarter ended Dec. 31, in line with analysts' average estimate, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Reporting by Uday Sampath and Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Analysts said the new cash may afford Bed Bath only a few quarters to revive its business, and a weakening economy would diminish any chance of a successful turnaround. Bed Bath declined to comment on Hudson Bay Capital's role in the share sale. "All is on hold," a maker of children's apparel said last week, adding that it had stopped shipping products to Bed Bath since early January. A shopping cart is seen at a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 29, 2022. Reuters reported late last month that Bed Bath had lined up liquidators to close additional stores unless a last-minute buyer emerged.

☆ Michael Kors owner Capri cuts forecasts as demand slows, shares plunge 24%
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Uday Sampath Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 8(Reuters) - Michael Kors owner Capri Holdings Ltd (CPRI.N) on Wednesday cut its annual profit forecast and provided a dour outlook for 2024, blaming a slowdown in demand from department stores for its luxury handbags and apparel and sending its shares tumbling 24%. Capri said third-quarter sales fell 6%, driven by a 20% fall in revenue from its wholesale channel, which includes department stores and other retailers. Revenue for Michael Kors, Capri's biggest brand, fell 4.5% to $777 million in the Americas during the third quarter. Capri, which also owns Jimmy Choo and Versace, cut its annual sales forecast to $5.56 billion, from $5.70 billion. Analysts expect earnings per share of $7.24 on revenue of $6.03 billion.

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) missed quarterly comparable sales and profit expectations on Tuesday, as customers pulled back on expensive delivery orders and traffic stalled in December. Comparable sales at California-based Chipotle rose 5.6% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, while analysts on average expected a 7.1% rise, according to Refinitiv IBES. Visits to Chipotle restaurants fell 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to data from Placer.ai. Delivery transactions also tumbled 15% as in-store orders surged, and Chipotle restaurants "didn't see that pop" that they normally get in December around the holidays, Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung said on the call. We think inflation will be reasonably tame," Hartung said, adding that the company had not yet decided whether to raise menu prices further in 2023.

Hudson Bay Capital is unrelated to Canadian department store chain Hudson's Bay Co. Bed Bath & Beyond declined to comment earlier Tuesday on Hudson Bay Capital leading investment in the share sale. A shopping cart is seen at a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 29, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew KellyPrices on Bed Bath & Beyond bonds due in 2024 climbed to 24 cents on the dollar from around 5 cents, a level still indicating financial distress. Bed Bath shares rose 2.7% in extended trading, after closing down 49% on Tuesday.

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☆ Chipotle misses quarterly sales estimates as traffic stalls
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) missed quarterly comparable sales expectations on Tuesday, in a sign that price hikes are taking a toll on demand for the restaurant's burritos and rice bowls. Visits to Chipotle restaurants fell 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to data from Placer.ai. Comparable sales at the California-based chain rose 5.6% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, while analysts on average expected a 7.1% rise, according to Refinitiv IBES. Revenue rose to $2.18 billion from $1.96 billion in the quarter, missing estimates of $2.23 billion. Some investors are worried about the cadence of falling traffic in 2022, analysts at Cowen said in a research note.

☆ Walmart to raise minimum wage for U.S. hourly workers to $14
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Siddharth Cavale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 24 (Reuters) - Walmart Inc (WMT.N) on Tuesday said it will raise average hourly wages for its U.S. store workers starting next month, as it seeks to attract and retain employees in a tight domestic labor market. Walmart's new wage hikes lift its average hourly wage pay to $17.50 from the current $17 an hour and will reflect in March 2 paychecks, the company said. Data from earlier this month showed average hourly earnings growth for U.S. workers slowed to 0.3% in December, compared with 0.4% in the prior month. This has raised prospects that the U.S. Federal Reserve could further raise interest rates, putting further strain on minimum wage workers and household budgets. It has previously also raised pay for truck drivers and distribution center workers.

☆ Walmart to raise wages for U.S. workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Jan 24 (Reuters) - Walmart Inc (WMT.N) said on Tuesday it will raise wages for its U.S. workers next month, taking its average hourly wage to more than $17.50. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ P&G raises sales forecast on price hikes, sees volumes fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - Tide detergent maker Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N) raised its full-year sales forecast on Thursday and said it plans to continue raising prices despite a drop in sales volumes, warning that high commodity costs were pressuring profits. While the price hikes have been met with less pushback compared to discretionary products, customers have still bought fewer of its products. P&G said organic sales in China, its second largest market, were down 7% due to COVID lockdowns and weaker consumer confidence. P&G said net sales fell 1% to $20.77 billion in the quarter, hurt by the impact of a stronger dollar on overseas revenue but beating Wall Street expectations. It's the first fall in quarterly net sales in a little over five years, according to Refinitiv data.

[1/3] The logo of the Times Square Disney store is seen in Times Square, New York City, U.S. December 5, 2019. Peltz, a billionaire activist who operates via his Trian Partners hedge fund, called for Disney to cut costs and turn a profit at its Disney+ streaming business, which has been losing money despite expanding at a fast clip. Its shares sank last year as losses deepened in its streaming business, and the price is now less than half the stock's 2021 high. Disney, Trian said, had overpaid for the assets of 21st Century Fox and bid aggressively for pay-TV giant Sky PLC. Disney said Trian would file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday to elect Peltz for a board seat in opposition to the company's nominees.

☆ Factbox: The 10 biggest U.S. retail bankruptcies in 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

J.C. PenneyAssets: $7.99 billionLiabilities: $7.16 billionStores: 846After more than a century in business, the department store chain filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020, weighed down by mounting debt. At the time, its bankruptcy was the biggest collapse of a U.S. retailer by assets since Kmart in 2002. It soon emerged from bankruptcy with much of its store base intact and $400 million in fresh financial aid. Tailored BrandsAssets: $2.48 billionLiabilities: $2.84 billionStores: Over 1,400The owner of tuxedo and business suit chain Men's Wearhouse filed for bankruptcy in August 2020. It emerged from bankruptcy just days short of a year since it filed for bankruptcy under a new name, Premier Brands.

☆ Macy's tempers holiday sales view, warns of more inflation pain ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 6 (Reuters) - Macy's Inc (M.N) said on Friday it expects fourth-quarter sales to come in at the lower end of its forecast, blaming a deeper-than-expected lull in shopping between the season's major holidays. While that helped sales during major shopping occasions such as Black Friday and Christmas, Macy's said the periods in between those days saw bigger-than-expected drop-offs in spending. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gennette said the company had taken steps to better align its merchandise with the expected slowdown in demand. Macy's net sales are now expected to be at the low end to mid-point of its previously forecast range of $8.16 billion to $8.40 billion. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond's road to potential bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Jan 5 (Reuters) - From a failed merchandising strategy to activist investor pressure over overpayed executives, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc (BBBY.O) has been on a largely downhill ride over the last few years. The company said on Thursday it was exploring options including a bankruptcy, which sources told Reuters could come within weeks. Here's a look at some of the major developments at the retailer over the past year:Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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