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☆ Tech firms, Wall Street lead job cuts in Corporate America
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOM SECTORMeta Platforms (META.O):The Facebook-parent said it would cut 10,000 jobs, just four months after it let go 11,000 employees. read moreMicrosoft Corp (MSFT.O):The U.S. tech giant said it would cut 10,000 jobs by the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The company laid off under 1,000 employees across several divisions in October, Axios reported, citing a source. Workday (WDAY.O):The software company will cut roughly 500 jobs, or 3% of its workforce, citing a challenging macroeconomic environment. Morgan Stanley (MS.N):The Wall Street powerhouse was planning to cut about 3,000 jobs in the second quarter ended June 30, Reuters reported in May.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Goldman Sachs, Axios, Pat Gelsinger, Elon Musk, Morgan Stanley, Lazard, Coinbase, cryptocurrencies, Phillips, Johnson, Joseph Wolk, Deborah Sophia, Akash Sriram, Granth Vanaik, Eva Mathews, Yuvraj Malik, Sourasis Bose, Priyamvada, Tiyashi Datta, Manya Saini, Jaspreet Singh, Maju Samuel, Sriraj Kalluvila, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, TELECOM, Meta, Facebook, IBM Corp, Spotify Technology SA, Spotify, Microsoft Corp, Intel Corp, Reuters, New York Times, Elon, Cisco Systems, HP, Rivian, Match, Dell Technologies, Technologies, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, Goldman Sachs, Wall, Citigroup, Bloomberg News, BlackRock, Bed, Dow, Johnson, 3M, Thomson Locations: New, Wall, U.S, York, New Jersey, Bengaluru

☆ McDonald's raises China bet, bucking Western firms' derisking trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] A woman sits on a swing attached to a giant sign of McDonald's, outside its themed exhibition in Beijing, China December 4, 2023. One advantage for McDonald’s: its majority partner in the China business, CITIC, provides top-level political cover, said Jason Yu, greater China managing director of market research firm Kantar Worldpanel. McDonald's China, Carlyle Group and CITIC declined to comment. Other consumer-facing U.S. firms, including Starbucks (SBUX.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Coach owner Tapestry (TPR.N) and sportswear giant Nike (NKE.N), have remained similarly dedicated to the China market. Although the McDonald's China menu would be familiar to U.S. consumers, there are nods to local tastes, including taro pie, rather than apple.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, McDonald's, Jason Yu, Kantar, Yu, Carlyle, Wallace, Greg, Euromonitor, Ben Cavender, Casey, Kane Wu, Deborah Sophia, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Group, Carlyle Group, Starbucks, Apple, Nike, Research, Investment, China Market Research, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, U.S, Hong Kong, Macau, Yum China, Russia, Shanghai, Bengaluru

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

☆ Deal-hunters fuel $12 billion Cyber Monday shopping spree
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - After a busy holiday shopping weekend, discount seekers are expected to spend between a record $12 billion and $12.4 billion on beauty products, electronics, toys and apparel on Cyber Monday, according to Adobe Analytics. Heavy online traffic and transactions could add up to a boost in sales by U.S. shoppers of 5.4% or more, according to Adobe. Shoppers spent $10.3 billion in the weekend leading up to Cyber Monday, up 7.7% from last year as retailers offered more discounts compared to last year. More merchandise was being discounted in the weekend leading up to Cyber Monday, according to a report from LSEG. Walmart (WMT.N) , eager to capture market share, slashed prices on Sunday night, joining the trend of retailers' early discounts on major shopping days.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Vivek Pandya, Pandya, TJ Maxx, Jharonne Martis, LSEG, Rob Garf, Garf, Vanessa O'Connell, Deborah Sophia, Arriana, David Gregorio, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Workers, REUTERS, Adobe Analytics, U.S, Adobe, Shoppers, Adobe Digital, Walmart, Reuters, Costco, Commerce, Insider Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, U.S, Salesforce, Ross

☆ US Cyber Monday online sales set to cross $12 billion as big discounts lure shoppers - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Boxes ready to be delivered are seen during Cyber Monday at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Robbinsville Township in New Jersey, U.S., November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - U.S. shoppers looking for steep discounts are set to boost Cyber Monday online sales to a record $12 billion to $12.4 billion, splurging on products like Barbie dolls and headphones, data from Adobe Analytics showed. The midpoint of the range represents a jump of nearly 8%, better than Adobe's initial forecast of a 6.1% rise to $12 billion, easing concerns of a lackluster 2023 holiday shopping season. Salesforce also predicted Cyber Monday online sales would grow in the high-single-digit percentage range, both globally and in the United States. Reporting by Juby Babu and Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Barbie, Salesforce, Juby Babu, Deborah Sophia, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, Adobe Analytics, Thomson Locations: Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, U.S, United States, Bengaluru

[1/6] People load up their newly purchased items from Best Buy on Black Friday in Wheaton-Glenmont, Maryland, U.S., November 24, 2023. A record 130.7 million people are expected to shop in stores and online in the U.S. on Black Friday this year, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates. But at 6 a.m. on Friday at a Walmart in New Milford, Connecticut, the parking lot was only half full. "It's a lot quieter this year, a lot quieter," said shopper Theresa Forsberg, who visits the same five stores with her family at dawn every Black Friday. And the rise of online shopping has reduced the importance of Black Friday as a single-day event.

Persons: Leah Millis, Cowen, David Klink, Theresa Forsberg, Michael Brown, Kearney, Jeff Gennette, Jimmy Lee, there's, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Oscar de, Carlos Araejo, Ruiz, It’s, ”, Paul Aheren, Puma, Siddharth Cavale, Helen Reid, Arriana McLymore, Katherine Masters, Andrew Hay, Bianca Flowers, Danielle Broadway, James Davey, Deborah Sophia, Miral Fahmy, Nick Zieminski, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Shoppers, Huntington Private Bank, Walmart, Target, National Retail Federation, Garden, Insider Intelligence, Macy's, Adobe Analytics, Wealth Consulting, Amazon, Adobe, Nordstrom, “, Saks, Puma, Israel Football Association, IFA, Thomson Locations: Wheaton, Glenmont , Maryland, U.S, RALEIGH, N.C, New Milford , Connecticut, Paramus , New Jersey, Indianapolis, Israel, Palestine, United States, Dallas, Raleigh, Crabtree, Boston

Brokerage TD Cowen lowered its U.S. holiday spending estimate to 2% to 3% growth, from 4% to 5%, as it forecast flat Black Friday traffic. With many consumers squeezed by persistent inflation and high interest rates, U.S. holiday spending is expected to rise at the slowest pace in five years. But at 6 a.m. on Friday at a Walmart in New Milford, Connecticut, the parking lot was only half full. "It's a lot quieter this year, a lot quieter," said shopper Theresa Forsberg, who visits the same five stores with her family at dawn every Black Friday. The rise of online shopping has reduced the importance of Black Friday as a single-day event.

Persons: Cowen, David Klink, ”, Barbara Kahn, Theresa Forsberg, Michael Brown, Kearney, Jimmy Lee, Leah Millis, there's, Jeff Gennette, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Oscar de, Carlos Araejo, Ruiz, It’s, Paul Aheren, Puma, Siddharth Cavale, Helen Reid, Arriana McLymore, Katherine Masters, Andrew Hay, Bianca Flowers, Danielle Broadway, James Davey, Deborah Sophia, Miral Fahmy, Nick Zieminski, Frances Kerry, Leslie Adler Organizations: Shoppers, Huntington Private Bank, Walmart, Target, Ross Stores, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, “, National Retail Federation, Garden, Insider Intelligence, Adobe Analytics, Adobe, Wealth Consulting, Amazon, REUTERS, Nordstrom, Saks, Protesters, Puma, Israel Football Association, Thomson Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, U.S, New Milford , Connecticut, Paramus , New Jersey, Wheaton, Glenmont , Maryland, Indianapolis, Israel, Palestine, United States, Dallas, Raleigh, Crabtree, Boston

☆ 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

☆ Lowe's sees steeper drop in annual comparable sales on weak demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

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 RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos (LOW.N) on Tuesday projected a bigger drop in annual comparable sales than previously expected and trimmed its profit forecast as inflation-hit consumers cut back spending on home-improvement projects, sending its shares down 6%. Lowe's saw a "greater-than-expected pullback in DIY discretionary spending, particularly in bigger ticket categories" in the third quarter, CEO Marvin Ellison said. The company reported a 7.4% drop in same-store sales for the three months ended Nov. 3, compared with analysts' average estimate of a 5% drop, according to LSEG IBES data. Lowe's now 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, Deborah Sophia, Anil D'Silva Organizations: REUTERS, Home, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, U.S, Lowe's, Placer.ai, Bengaluru

The deal to acquire investment firm Carlyle's (CG.O) 28% holding in the burger chain's China business, which also includes its stores in Hong Kong and Macau, will see McDonald's stake rise to 48%. Since 2017, the number of McDonald's stores in China has doubled to 5,500 and the country has become its second-largest market. McDonald's made an unsolicited offer for Carlyle's stake in the China operations in recent weeks and the deal was struck quickly, said the sources. Reuters reported in August that Trustar Capital was planning to raise a continuation fund that would allow the Chinese private equity firm to sell down its stake in McDonald's China. In contrast to McDonald's, U.S. meat and processed food maker Tyson Foods (TSN.N) plans to sell its China poultry business, sources have said.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Chris Kempczinski, McDonald's, Carlyle, Trustar, Jim Sanderson, Reckitt, Kane Wu, Granth, Deborah Sophia, Roxanne Liu, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, HK, CITIC, Trustar, Northcoast Research, Reuters, Tyson Foods, Primavera Capital, Thomson Locations: Bretigny, Paris, France, China, Hong Kong, Macau, CITIC, U.S, McDonald's China, British, Bengaluru, Beijing

The McDonald's company logo stands on a sign outside a restaurant in Bretigny-sur-Orge, near Paris, France, July 30, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 20 (Reuters) - McDonald's (MCD.N) said on Monday it would acquire investment firm Carlyle's (CG.O) 28% stake in a partnership that manages its business in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, as the burger chain looks to simplify its structure in the region. Reuters reported in April that Carlyle was discussing various options with financial advisers for its stake in McDonald's China, including setting up a continuation fund for the asset. There was "no better time to simplify our structure" given the benefits of China's long-term potential, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said. Reuters reported in August that Trustar Capital, formerly known as CITIC Capital, was also planning to raise a continuation fund that would allow the Chinese private equity firm to sell down its stake in McDonald's China.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Carlyle, Chris Kempczinski, Jim Sanderson, Granth, Deborah Sophia, Anil D'Silva, Shounak Dasgupta, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: REUTERS, CITIC, HK, Reuters, CITIC Ltd, Northcoast, Thomson Locations: Bretigny, Paris, France, China, Hong Kong, Macau, McDonald's China, Bengaluru

☆ Walmart lifts targets as shoppers pick low-priced groceries for the holiday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Siddharth Cavale/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 16 (Reuters) - Walmart (WMT.N) raised its annual sales and profit forecast on Thursday for the second straight quarter, signaling a strong start to the holiday season. The strong demand for low-priced products from groceries to clothing and gifts, coupled with better in-stock levels, has helped Walmart take more market share from other retailers - including dollar stores - in recent months. Walmart now expects fiscal 2024 earnings per share of between $6.40 and $6.48, up from its prior forecast of $6.36 to $6.46. Walmart is also doubling down on holiday merchandise across a wide range of price points to attract inflation-hit customers looking to make Christmas purchases on a budget. Walmart shares, which have gained nearly 20% this year, were down 1% in premarket trading.

Persons: Siddharth Cavale, Doug McMillon, Deborah Sophia, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Walmart, Target, Walmart U.S, Walmart's, Thomson Locations: Teterboro , New Jersey, U.S, New York, 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

☆ Burger King weakness drives sales miss at parent Restaurant Brands
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) 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 still-high inflation pressured consumer spending at its Burger King chain, signaling that the brand's turnaround efforts were falling short. The weak sales come despite Burger King executing a $400 million turnaround plan by streamlining menus, targeting younger consumers through better advertising and improving restaurant technology. Total same-store sales at the Burger King division rose 7.2% in the third quarter, missing estimates of 8.71%, according to LSEG IBES data. Toronto, Canada-based Restaurant Brands posted an adjusted profit of 90 cents per share, beating estimates of 86 cents.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, McDonald's, Burger, Wells Fargo, Tim Hortons, Deborah Sophia, Devika Organizations: Burger King, REUTERS, Brands, U.S ., Burger King's, Thomson Locations: Bretigny, Paris, France, U.S, Burger, Burger King's U.S, Canada, Toronto, Bengaluru

☆ Taco Bell parent Yum Brands tops same-store sales estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Taco Bell order and drinks sit inside the first digital-only U.S. location at Times Square in New York City, U.S., April 14, 2021. Yum Brands has banked on aggressive promotions and limited-time offers across its brands to attract customers. Global same-store sales at Taco Bell restaurants rose 8% in the quarter, above estimates of an increase of 6.49%, while KFC posted an increase of 6%, compared with estimates of 5.39%. Total same-store sales at Yum Brands rose 6% in quarter, beating analysts' estimates of a 4.73% increase. On an adjusted basis, Yum Brands earned $1.44 per share, beating estimates of $1.28.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Taco, Taco Bell, Deborah Sophia, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: Bell, REUTERS, Yum Brands, Taco Bell, KFC, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Taco, United States, 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

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