February 1, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) 4Q18 Results: Beats Consensus Estimates, Guidance in Line with ConsensusTractor Supply reported Q4 revenues of $2.13 billion, up 9.2% year over year and above the $2.10 billion consensus estimate. Comps were 5.7%, beating the 3.7% consensus estimate and comprising a 3.0% increase in average ticket and a 2.6% increase in transaction count. All geographic regions and all major product categories had positive comps. Continued strength in everyday merchandise in the consumable, usable and edible categories helped drive comps, in addition to strong sales of winter and other seasonal products.
February 1, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access H&M (STO: HM-B) FY18 Results: Logistics Upgrade Proves a Drag on ProfitsFor 1Q19, the company expects markdowns to be around 1 percentage point lower compared to the year-ago period and expects to see continued improvement in inventory, led by strong collections and increased full-price sales. Net sales for the period December 1, 2018 to January 28, 2019, increased 4% year over year in local currencies. In FY19, the company plans to open around 335 new stores, of which around 240 will be H&M stores. H&M plans to close 160 stores. The company will open new logistics centers outside Madrid and north of London at the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020.
February 1, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access LVMH (ENXTPA: MC) FY18 Results: Fashion and Leather Goods Set the PaceLVMH full-year sales rose 9.8% to €46.8 billion. Currency exchange rates adversely impacted full year sales results by (400) bps. Online sales rose approximately 27-28%, to €3.7 billion and now represent 8% of consolidated 2018 revenues. Fashion and leather goods set the sales pace, achieving 15% organic growth in 2018. The Louis Vuitton brand has surpassed €10 billion annually and the fashion and leather goods segment now represents 39% of consolidated 2018 revenues, up from 36% in 2017.
January 31, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) 4Q18 and FY18 Results: Steady Growth, More Returns for ShareholderseBay reported revenues of $2.88 billion in 4Q18, up 6.3% year over year and beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 billion recorded by Bloomberg. GMV was $24.6 billion, up 1% as reported and 2% on a currency-neutral basis. Gross margin increased 31 basis points to 78.5% and operating margin decreased 82 basis points to 23.7%. Non-GAAP diluted EPS increased 20.3% to $0.71, beating consensus of $0.68.
January 30, 2019 Flash Report Register for Free Access Walgreens Boots Alliance Bags Over 60 Shopko Stores After Bankruptcy Court Approves BidsGeneral merchandise retailer Shopko filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 16, 2019. The company attributed its petition for financial restructuring to “excess debt and ongoing competitive pressures.” The retailer stated it would close an additional 38 stores this year, in addition to the 67 previously earmarked for closure, relocate 20 optical centers to freestanding locations and auction off its pharmacy business.
January 30, 2019 Flash Report Register for Free Access Unilever Expands Home Care Portfolio with the Acquisition of The LaundressOn January 28, Unilever announced it had acquired The Laundress, a premium detergent and fabric care company headquartered in New York. The Laundress was founded in 2004 by Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd after two years of research yielded a non-toxic line of laundry and home cleaning products. The portfolio now includes over 85 eco-friendly products. Unilever said The Laundress will continue to operate from its New York City headquarters and that the two founders will remain in place to lead the business and operate the brand’s flagship store in New York.
January 29, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) 4Q18 Results: Driving Growth Through Acquisition, Innovation and ProductColgate-Palmolive reported net sales of $3.81 billion for the three months ended December 31, 2018, down 2.1% year over year but ahead of the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion recorded by StreetAccount. Group organic sales, which exclude the effects of currency movements, acquisitions and divestments, increased 2.0%. Operating income came in at $900 million, down 3.6% year over year. Gross margin decreased 70 basis points to 59.1% and operating margin fell 36 basis points to 23.4%.
January 29, 2019 Insight Report Premium New Retail Briefing # 2: Alibaba Steps Up Partnerships, NetEase Kaola Opens Flagship StoreAlibaba launched the “A100 Strategic Partnership” program in January 2019 to help partner brands digitalize by giving them access to resources within its ecosystem so participating brands can access Alibaba services in 11 areas to enhance online-offline business integration. Alibaba will also assign a dedicated team to serve each participating brand.
January 29, 2019 Flash Report Register for Free Access Legacy UK Retailers Tesco and Marks & Spencer Think Radically to Expand Margins and Revive Revenue GrowthIn a press release on January 29, Tesco confirmed plans to close fresh-food counters in around 90 stores, with 700 further stores retaining a “full or flexible” counter offer. It will also simplify stock management at store level, close store canteens and make job cuts at its head office. The company estimates that up to 9,000 roles could be impacted but it expects up to half of these people could be redeployed.
January 28, 2019 Event Presentation Premium 10 Global Retail Trends and 10 Startup TrendsThis presentation discusses 10 global retail trends and 10 startup trends.
January 25, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) 4Q18 Results: Sales Slow, New Strategy to Guide GrowthThe personal care segment reported sales of $2.2 billion, down 2% year over year, and operating profit of $436 million, down 11% due to higher input costs and operating expenses as well as currency exchange effects. Higher sales volumes drove North America sales, increasing 4% year over year, driven by growth in Pull-Ups training pants, GoodNites youth pants and Depend adult care products. Developed markets outside North America saw sales decrease 4% while net selling prices dropped slightly.
January 25, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access P&G (NYSE: PG) 2Q19 Results: Innovation Driving Growth, Competition Remains ToughP&G reported net sales of $17.4 billion for the three months ended December 31, 2018, up 0.2% year over year. Operating income came in at $3.9 billion, down 0.6% year over year. Gross margin on net sales decreased 130 basis points to 48.9% and operating margin fell 70 basis points to 22.3%. Due to income tax charges caused by a transitional impact of the US Tax Act, diluted earnings per share were $1.22, an increase of 31.2% compared to the previous year. Management said the strong result was driven by the company’s focus on product superiority, productivity and improving its organization and culture.
January 24, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Burberry (LSE: BRBY) 3Q19 Update: Limited Edition Products Drive Excitement and SalesBurberry reported a 1.1% retail revenue decline for 3Q19 to £711 million. Comparable store sales rose 1%, driven by mid-single-digit comps in mainland China and Korea. There was very little change in price, thus the increase in comps was volume driven. A net two store closures eliminated 1% of retail selling space.
January 24, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Ahold Delhaize (ENXTAM: AD) 4Q18 and FY18 Update: Strong Performance Prompts Narrowing of GuidanceAhold Delhaize reported a trading update for its fourth quarter and FY18: In 4Q18, net sales were €16.5 billion, up 3.0% at constant currency, roughly in-line with the consensus of €16.48 billion by StreetAccount, but lower than the 3.6% growth recorded in the previous quarter. Net consumer online sales grew 26.4% at constant exchange rates. For FY18, net sales increased 2.5% year over year at constant exchange rates to €62.8 billion. Net consumer online sales reached €3.5 billion.
January 24, 2019 Flash Report Register for Free Access JD.com Takes Flight in Indonesia with Drone Delivery TrialJD.com’s drone delivery is the first time a Chinese drone has been used for delivery in Southeast Asia, and is also the first time the Indonesian government has granted permission to use a drone for logistics purpose.
