Coresight Research helps retail clients accelerate innovation and growth. We focus on disruption at the intersection of retail and technology – and help you understand what it means for your business. Coresight Research has a global presence spanning the US, Europe and Asia, including deep expertise in the China market.
Williams-Sonoma reported 4Q18 revenues of $1.84 billion, up 9.3%. Adjusted EPS was $2.10, up 25.3%. Comps increased 2.4%. The company guided for a 2019 comps of +2%–5% and adjusted EPS of $4.50–$4.70.
Year to date, US retailers have announced 5,279 store closures and 2,395 store openings. This compares to 5,726 closures and 3,243 openings for the full year 2018. Year to date, UK retailers have announced 310 store closures and 327 store openings.
This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses how blockchain technology could democratize operations and promote cooperation in retail.
Total retail sales excluding fuel and automobiles increased 3.7% year over year in January, growing substantially from the revised 0.1% year-over-year decline reported for December.
Coresight Research tracks store openings and closures for a select group of retailers in the US and the UK, as well as major US store bankruptcies.
This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses the adaptive clothing and footwear market, which represents a $47.3 billion opportunity in the US.
Year to date in 2019, US retailers have announced 4,309 store closures and 1,586 store openings. UK retailers have announced 285 store closures and 327 store openings.
Lowe’s reported mixed Q4 results and 2019 guidance was higher on revenues, in line on EPS. Q4 EPS was $0.80, beating consensus by a penny. Comps were +1.7% below +2.1% consensus. Revenues were slightly light. 2010 revenue guidance was +2%, ahead of +1.8% consensus, comp guidance was +3%, ahead of +2.9% consensus, EPS guidance of $6.00-$6.10 was in line.
Home Depot reported 4Q18 revenues of $26.49 billion, slightly the $26.58 billion consensus estimate. EPS was $2.09, up 37.2%. For the year, Home Depot reported FY18 revenues of $108.2 billion, up 7.2%, comps increased 5.2% globally and 5.4% in the US. EPS was $9.73, up 33.5%.
Year to date in 2019, U.S. retailers have announced 4,287 store closures and 1,586 store openings.
Amazon was among the retailers to report a slower holiday quarter: The company’s North America sales growth slowed from 35.0% in the third quarter to 18.3% in the fourth quarter. These figures exclude Amazon’s high-growth Amazon Web Services (AWS) business and, so, should closely reflect its retail and marketplace revenues.
All regions posted sales and traffic declines in January compared to the same period last year. The Midwest registered the largest year-over-year decline in traffic of all regions at 17.5%, owing to severe weather conditions. With warmer and wetter conditions, the South experienced the lowest decline, at 5.8%. The Midwest also recorded the largest year-over-year in-store sales decline among all regions, down 16.8%, whereas the West, which enjoyed warmer and drier conditions, reported the smallest decline, down 1.4%.
Our measure of core retail sales is non-seasonally-adjusted sales excluding gasoline and automobiles. This metric increased by just 1.0% year over year in December, slowing dramatically from the growth in preceding months, including a 5.2% uplift in November. This resulted in total holiday-period sales coming in at $693 billion, up by just 2.9% year over year.
Eight things you need to know about retail in China: Smartphones are key, cash is going away (seriously), shopping festivals are booming, smaller cities are spending – and more.
Year to date in 2019, U.S. retailers have announced 2,187 store closures and 1,503 store openings.
