January 18, 2019 Flash Report Register for Free Access Walgreens Boots Alliance and Microsoft Forge Partnership to Explore Digital Health OpportunitiesDrugstore retailer WBA and technology giant Microsoft have entered into a seven-year agreement which includes developing software and technology for patient care management and retail store operations. This alliance follows close on the heels of last month’s deal with Alphabet’s life sciences business Verily to help patients manage medication. Through this partnership, WBA will be able to leverage Microsoft’s cloud services suite Azure. The suite of tools and applications uses several cutting-edge technologies, such as cloud, AI, the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain. Microsoft has developed a host of healthcare tools, such as a smartphone app to connect users with healthcare providers and AI-based software engines to crunch masses of patient data to help detect possible health conditions sooner.
January 17, 2019 Deep Dive Premium 10 Tech Startup Trends Reshaping Retail in 2019: Get Ready for Digital DisruptionThe retail industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, and continues to evolve quickly. In 2019, the market will be defined by emerging technologies that change the way consumers interact with brands, by new engagement formats and channels, as retailers look to collaboration more with startups to future-proof their businesses.
January 15, 2019 Insight Report Premium US Holiday Comparable Sales Growth Results: A Mixed Picture So FarAs US retailers report comparable sales for the 2018 holiday season, we’re seeing a mixed bag of results. Some retailers such as Costco and Boot Barn did well, reporting strong comparable sales growth and beating consensus estimates. Retailers such as Target, Barnes & Noble and Buckle showed sequential comparable sales growth improvement, but not as strong. Comparable sales at Macy’s and L Brands weakened sequentially.
January 11, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Tesco (LSE: TSCO) 3Q19 and Christmas Update: Strongest U.K. Christmas Growth for a DecadeTesco, the U.K.’s biggest grocery retailer, reported results for 3Q19 (ended November 24, 2018), and the subsequent six-week Christmas period (ended January 5). For the core six-week Christmas period, Tesco grew comparable sales in its U.K. operations by 2.2%, above the consensus estimate of 1.4% from StreetAccount. The company said it outperformed the market in volume and value terms and versus the market “in all key categories: food, clothing and general merchandise.”
January 11, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Seven & i (TSE: 3382) 9M19 Results: Struggling at Home, Silver Lining in Overseas Convenience StoresJapan-based retailer Seven & i reported net sales of ¥4,110.6 billion for the nine months ended November 30, 2018, up 15.8% year over year. Operating income came in at ¥304.3 billion, up 2.9% year over year. Gross margin on net sales decreased by 200 basis points to 19.6% and operating margin fell by 60 basis points to 6.0%. Diluted EPS was ¥176.53, up 4.7% year over year. Below, we outline the performance of convenience store operations, superstore Ito-Yokado, food supermarket York-Benimaru and department store Sogo & Seibu.
January 10, 2019 Store Tracker Databank Members Reviewing 2018 U.S. and U.K. Store ClosuresIn the U.S., major retailers closed 5,524 stores and opened 3,083 stores during 2018. By sector, apparel specialist stores led the pack with 766 closures; Payless ShoeSource contributed 408 of these closures.
January 10, 2019 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Sainsbury’s (LSE: SBRY) 3Q19 Trading Update: Lower Holiday Promotions Weigh on Top LineDespite the declines, CEO Mike Coupe believes grocery was “solid,” general merchandise outperformed the market and that clothing “performed well” in the quarter. General merchandise sales grew “strongly” over the “key Christmas weeks” (unspecified) and outperformed the market over the quarter — but sales declined in the quarter due to cautious spending by consumers and the company’s decision to reduce promotional activity around Black Friday.
January 8, 2019 Market Navigators/Market Outlook Premium Sector Overview: European Retail — Germany’s Shoppers Cut BackApparently alarmed by world events such as Brexit and tariff wars, and in a context of slowly climbing inflation, German consumers have retrenched their discretionary spending.
January 8, 2019 Event Coverage Register for Free Access CES 2019: Five Innovative Technology Startups From Day 2Chronolife has a device to help people with chronic or congestive heart failure (CHF) by anticipating medical emergencies with its wearable Chronolife vest. The Parcel Guard is a smart mailbox designed to prevent “porch pirates” — people who steal packages from your front porch. P&G Ventures, Procter & Gamble’s startup division, unveiled at-home skincare device Opté Precision Skincare System (Opté). Capstone Connected Home launched the Smart Mirror, a mirror integrated with Google Assistant with touchscreen capabilities. The Bread Bot, developed by Wilkinson Baking Company, a fully automated robotic bread-making machine that bakes and sells bread like a vending machine.
December 10, 2018 Flash Report Register for Free Access Walmart Spruces Up Its Portfolio with the Acquisition of Art.comOn Thursday, December 6, Walmart published a blog post announcing it had acquired the assets of Art.com (including its catalog, intellectual property, trade name, and US operations) for an undisclosed figure.
December 4, 2018 Insight Report Premium Amazon’s Ambitious Plan to Disrupt Convenience Stores—and Maybe Quick Service Restaurants, TooAmazonGo stores are small, cashierless, checkout-free convenience stores that primarily offer on-the-go food options in metropolitan areas.
November 29, 2018 Insight Report Premium Kroger: A Timeline of Key Events – November 2018This is the third report in our Retailers’ Timelines series. In this report, we examine a timeline of key events in Kroger’s recent history that have shaped it into the retailer it is today.
November 29, 2018 Insight Report Premium Ahold Delhaize: A Timeline of Key EventsThis is the fourth report in our Retailers’ Timelines series. In this report, we chronicle key events in Ahold Delhaize’s recent history.
November 21, 2018 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Target Corp. (TGT) 3Q18 Results: Misses Consensus Estimates, Raises 4Q18 Revenue GuidanceTarget reported adjusted 3Q18 EPS of $1.09, missing the $1.11 consensus estimate. Sales were $17.59 billion, missing the $17.70 billion consensus estimate.
November 16, 2018 Company Earnings Update Register for Free Access Walmart (WMT) 3Q19 Results: Beats on Comps and EPS, Misses on Revenues; Raises EPS GuidanceWalmart reported 3Q19 adjusted EPS of $1.08, up 8.0% from $1.00 in the year-ago quarter and beating the $1.01 consensus estimate. Total revenues were $124.9 billion, up 1.4% year over year but below the consensus estimate of $125.4 billion.
