Why Out-of-stocks, Data Mismatch, and Hidden Demand Still Catch Out Beauty Brands When beauty brands review retail performance, the picture often looks reassuring. Availability appears high. Sales reports feel complete. Forecasts are built on what was sold. But our conversations with brands working directly with Ulta and Sephora reveal a more complicated reality. One where... Read more »
May 15, 2014 Kohl’s joins a growing list of retailers whose first quarter results took a hit from a severe and extended winter. Despite missing estimates, the company is staying firm on its guidance for the full fiscal year. The company reported net sales for the quarter of $4.07 billion, a 3.1% decrease from $4.2… Read more »
May 15, 2014 Walmart continues to envision flat same store sales at its U.S. stores after reporting weaker than expected profits on weak U.S. sales results that were negatively affected by a winter that wouldn’t end. Net income declined 5% to $3.6 billion and earnings per share of $1.10 were five cents below analysts’ expectations… Read more »
May 15, 2014 Things took a wacky turn in the retail world this week as JCPenney reported a 6.2% same store sales increase and a huge gross margin expansion while Macy’s, Kohl’s and Walmart stumbled. JCPenney still lost money, lots of it, during the quarter ended May 3, but total sales increased 6% to $2.8… Read more »
May 14, 2014 Sears Holdings plans to hire an investment banking firm to explore strategic alternatives regarding its 51% ownership stake in Sears Canada. The strategic alternatives are said to include the potential sale of Sears Holdings’ interest or Sears Canada as a whole, according to a statement by the Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based company. In… Read more »
May 16, 2014 Soaring production of multifamily apartments pushed nationwide housing starts above the million-unit mark in April, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. Total housing production rose 13.2 percent for the month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.07 million… Read more »
May 14, 2014 The nation’s leading department store retailer overcame weak first quarter sales to muster a 3.2% profit improvement and expressed confidence in its performance the remainder of the year. The company’s first quarter earnings per share of 60 cents was a penny better than analysts forecast and a 9% improvement from prior year… Read more »
May 15, 2014 Reports Record First Quarter Earnings per Share of $2.56 versus $2.50 Dillard’s, Inc. (DDS-NYSE) announced operating results for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2014. Summary of the Company’s First Quarter Performance A 2% increase in comparable store sales Diluted earnings per share of $2.56 versus $2.50 Cash flow from operations of… Read more »
May 15, 2014 Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes in May fell one point to 45 from a downwardly revised April reading of 46 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. “After four months in which the HMI has shown little signs of fluctuation,… Read more »
May 13, 2014 Retail sales rose ever so slightly in April, putting a damper on hopes of a sharp uptick in economic growth in the second quarter. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, retail sales, which include categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants, rose 0.1% in April, following a revised 1.5% increase in… Read more »
May 12, 2014 Last week: Some improvement in trade, domestically and globally, was the big news this week. The forward indicators have been pointing to some improvement in global industrial conditions, which may be developing, as evidenced by the trade data. The other big story is financial, in terms of the Federal Reserve continuing to… Read more »
