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New Retail Briefing #3: Walmart China Eyes Retail Innovation; A.S. Watson and Unilever Agree to New Retail Partnerships

Walmart China launched the Omega8 initiative in January 2019 to serve as a proof of concept (POC) platform that lets tech startups test newly designed technology applications in a real retail environment. Walmart reported over 50 startups signed up for the initiative. Walmart will train these companies in a variety of retail operation skills. Walmart said its existing 400 offline stores in China will act as testing grounds for startup technology before rolling out to mass market.

This Omega8 initiative shows Walmart’s ambition of leveraging tech startups for its own digital innovation, and understanding of the Chinese market. Ben Hassing, Senior Vice President of Walmart China said, “Walmart has worked with many technology startups not only to propel our business in China, but also to understand the Chinese market and China in greater depth.”

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Sector Overview: US Home and Home Improvement Retailers — Mixed Signals in a Time of Bounty

Annual growth in national spending on home improvement and repair is expected to decelerate in 2019, due to rising mortgage interest rates and flat home sales activity, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Despite this deceleration, other indicators such as home prices, permit activity, and retail sales of building materials are expected to continue to strengthen and drive continued increases in spending in 2019.

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Amazon Outpaces the UK and German E-Commerce Markets in 2018

We estimate that Amazon grew U.K. revenues 23.3% in 2018, just below 2017’s growth of 24.9% and faster than total U.K. Internet retail sales growth of 14.5% in 2018.
In Germany, Amazon revenues climbed 12.1% in 2018, according to our calculations. This compared to an estimated 9.4% increase in total Internet retail sales and Amazon Germany’s 17.5% growth in 2017.
In 2018, Amazon captured a 31% share of U.K. Internet retail sales and a 47% share of German Internet retail sales, according to Euromonitor International estimates.

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Tapestry (NYSE: TPR) 2Q19 Results: Improved Margin Performance at Coach but Revenues Miss Consensus

At Coach, global comparable store sales rose 1%, led by outperformance in international and e-commerce channels. Business in Greater China accelerated and Coach’s business with the Chinese consumer increased. Comps were positive in Europe and Japan as well, offset by negative comps in North America and Korea. Comps declined 11% at Kate Spade as the business transitions to a new design team. Marketing to support the launch of Nicola Glass’s new collection was moved to the current quarter (3Q19), and the initial read is positive.

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Skechers (NYSE: SKX) 4Q18 Results: EPS Beats Consensus Estimate but Revenues and Comps Miss

In 4Q18, the company grew sales 11.4% to $1.08 billion, missing the $1.1 billion consensus estimate. On a constant-currency basis, the company recorded $1.1 billion in sales, up 13.7% year over year, reflecting a $22.3 million currency adjustment.

The company’s international wholesale business grew 18.4%, missing the 20.2% consensus estimate. The global retail business increased 7.5%, lower than the 8.1% consensus estimate, while the domestic wholesale business grew 4.8%, missing the 9.0% consensus estimate.

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Macerich (NYSE: MAC) 4Q18 Results: Results Meet/Beat Estimates, 2019 FFO Guidance Below Consensus

Same-center net operating income (excluding lease termination revenue) grew 4.2% compared to the year-ago quarter.
The Company’s joint venture in One Westside (formerly known as Westside Pavilion) in Los Angeles, entered into a lease with Google for the entirety of its 584,000-square foot office campus.
The company’s joint venture in Country Club Plaza in Kansas City entered into a lease with Nordstrom.

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Hanesbrands (NYSE: HBI) 4Q18 Results: Champion and International Segment Driving Results

Hanesbrands expects sales of $6.885-6.985 billion driven by a 6% increase in international sales. Growth drivers are Champion in Asia and Europe and increased innerwear sales in Asia, Australia and the Americas. U.S. innerwear sales are expected to decrease about 2% in 2019, down 4% in 1Q with an improving trend throughout the year.
Adjusted operating profit of $955-985 million.
Adjusted EPS of $1.72-1.80.
Net cash from operations of $700-800 million.
For 1Q19, guidance is sales of $1.52-1.55 billion, adjusted operating profit of $135-145 million and adjusted EPS of $0.24-0.26.

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Brookfield (NASDAQ: BPY) 4Q18 Results: Beats Consensus, Announces a $500 Million Repurchase Program

Brookfield reported net income of $858 million ($0.51 per unit) versus $958 million ($0.17 per unit) in the year-ago quarter.

FFO was $416 million ($0.43 per unit), compared with $286 million ($0.41 per unit) in the year-ago quarter.

The increases in FFO in the quarter and year were due to the following factors: Higher investment in core retail and seasonally strong performance in the quarter, along with same-property income growth in the core office business. This strong operating performance more than offset the impact of a higher interest rate environment and negative currency effects.

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