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Nov 16, 2023
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Walmart dropped 6.2% to $159.20 after the retailer reported quarterly results and issued a cautious outlook.
Revenue in the fiscal third quarter increased 5.2% to $160.8 million from $152.8 billion, and the company swung to a profit of $453 million from a loss of $1.8 billion. Diluted earnings per share were 17 cents, compared to a loss of 66 cents a year ago.
Sales at U.S. locations reflected ongoing challenging conditions for consumers; sales of groceries and health and wellness products rose, but discretionary items and general merchandise sales declined "modestly."
Walmart U.S. sales increased 4.4% to $109.4 billion, driven by a 4.9% increase in comparable store sales; transactions rose 3.4%; and average ticket size advanced 1.5% from a year ago.
The retailer also indicated U.S. e-commerce sales rose by 24%, and advertising sales on its online platform rose by 26% from a year ago.
The company guided full-year 2024 consolidated sales to increase between 5% and 5.5% and adjusted earnings per share to be between $6.40 and $6.80. -
Cisco Systems plunged 9.6% to $48.16 after the networking equipment maker reported strong quarterly results but said product order growth is likely to slow down.
Revenue in the fiscal 2024 first quarter ending in October increased 8% to $14.7 billion, net income advanced 36% to $3.6 billion from $2.7 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to 89 cents from 65 cents a year ago.
The company guided fiscal second-quarter revenue between $12.6 billion and $12.8 billion and earnings per share between 59 cents and 64 cents.
For the full-year 2024, the company estimated revenue in the range of $52.8 billion and $55.0 billion and earnings per share between $2.97 and $3.08.
The company declared a cash dividend of 39 cents per share payable on January 24 to shareholders on record on January 4. -
Palo Alto Networks declined 6.5% to $239.52 after the cyber security company reported better-than-expected quarterly results, but the company's new orders or billing outlook fell short of market expectations.
Revenue in the fiscal first quarter ending in October jumped 20% to $1.9 billion, net income advanced to $194.2 million from $20.0 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to 56 cents from 6 cents a year ago.
The company blamed the weakness in billings growth on rising interest rates.
The company guided total billings in the fiscal second quarter between $2.335 billion and $2.385 billion, representing growth between 15% and 18% a year ago.
For the fiscal year 2024, the company estimated total billings in the range of $10.7 billion and $10.8 billion, an increase between 16% and 17%.
Total revenue in the fiscal year 2024 will range between $8.15 billion and $8.20 billion, an increase between 18% and 19% from a year ago. -
Macy's jumped 8.2% to $13.64 after the apparel retailer reported better-than-expected earnings because of a decline in inventories and higher margins.
Revenue in the quarter declined 7% to $4.9 billion from $5.2 billion, net income dropped to $43 million from $108 million, and diluted earnings per share fell to 15 cents from 39 cents a year ago.
Fewer discounts in the quarter improved gross margin to 40.3% from 38.7% a year ago.
The retailer tightened its full-year sales outlook and estimated fiscal year 2023 sales between $22.9 billion and $23.2 billion, up from the previous estimated range between $22.8 billion and $23.2 billion.
The company also guided comparable sales, including license sales, to decline between 7% and 6%, compared to the previous estimate between 7.5% and 6%.
The company revised its adjusted diluted earnings per share range to between $2.88 and $3.13 from the previously estimated range of between $2.70 and $3.20. -
The producer price index, a measure of wholesale inflation, declined 0.5% from the previous month in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.
On an annual basis, the producer price index increased by 1.3%.
Wholesale price inflation fell at the fastest pace in a single month since April 2020, after good prices declined 1.4% following a rise since May and service prices were unchanged after advancing for six consecutive months.
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After rising for six months in a row, retail and food services sales declined 0.1% in October from the previous month, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Wednesday.
Retail sales data adjusted for calendar and seasonal factors but not for inflation, suggesting higher prices are keeping consumer spending in check.
On an annual basis, retail sales rose 2.5% in October from an upwardly revised 4.1% in September.
Sales in the three-month period between August and October rose 3.1% from the same period a year ago.
Retail trade sales decreased 0.2% from September and increased 1.6% from a year ago; gasoline station sales were down 7.5% from a year ago; and sales at nonstore retailers increased 7.6% from a year ago.
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Advanced Auto Parts declined 4.8% to $55.50 after the specialty retailer reported mixed quarterly results.
Revenue in the quarter increased by 2.9% to $2.7 billion, and comparable store sales increased by 1.2%.
The company swung to a net loss of $48.6 million from a profit of $115.9 million, and diluted earnings per share fell to a loss of 82 cents from $1.92 a year ago.
The company tightened its 2023 net sales outlook range to between $11.25 billion and $11.30 billion from the previous range between $11.25 billion and $11.35 billion.
The retailer sharply lowered its 2023 diluted earnings per share range to between $1.40 and $1.80 from the previous estimate of between $4.50 and $5.10 in August.
The company also lowered its 2023 free cash flow range to between $50 million and $100 million from the previous estimate of between $150 million and $250 million.
On October 31, the company declared a regular cash dividend of 25 cents per share to be paid on January 26, 2024, to all common stockholders of record as of January 12, 2024. -
TJX Companies fell 2.5% to $90.20 after the apparel and household goods retailer reported positive quarterly results, but the company's guidance fell short of some investors' expectations.
Revenue in the third quarter ending in October rose 9% to $13.3 billion from $12.2 billion, net income advanced to $1.2 billion from $1.1 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to $1.03 from 91 cents a year ago.
Comparable store sales in the quarter increased by 6%, slower than 14% a year ago.
U.S. comparable stores at Home Goods chain rose 9% compared to a decline of 16%, and Marmaxx stores (TJ Maxx and Marshall stores) increased 7% compared to 3% increase a year ago, respectively.
Total inventories at the end of the quarter were $8.3 billion, flat compared to a year ago.
During the quarter, the company repurchased $650 million of its own shares, retired 7.2 million shares, and paid $380 million in shareholder dividends.
The company now expects to repurchase approximately $2.25 billion to $2.5 billion of its stock during the fiscal year ending on February 3, 2024.
TJX estimated comparable sales in the fourth quarter to increase between 3% and 4%, and diluted earnings per share between $1.07 and $1.10.
For the fiscal year ending on February 4, 2024, the retailer estimated comparable sales to increase between 4% and 5% and diluted earnings per share between $3.71 and $3.74, including the benefit of the 53rd week. -
Target Corp. soared 14.2% to $126.65 after the retailer reported positive quarterly results.
Comparable sales in the third quarter declined 4.9%, and declines in discretionary categories were partially offset by an increase in daily necessities categories, including beauty.
Total revenue declined 4.2% to $25.4 billion, net income in the quarter advanced 36.3% to $971 million from $712 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $2.10 from $1.54 a year ago.
Inventory at the end of the quarter was 14% lower than a year ago, after a 19% decline in discretionary category inventories.
The company guided fourth-quarter comparable store sales to decline in a wider range around the mid-single digit, reflecting uncertainties about holiday spending. -
The consumer price index, the measure of consumer inflation, slowed to 3.2% in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday.
The annual rate of inflation in October fell from 3.7% in September and August, but the monthly inflation measure was unchanged from the previous month.
Inflation eased largely because of a sharp decline in energy prices by 4.5%, compared to a decline of 0.5% in September.
Core inflation, which strips off volatile food and energy prices, rose 4.0% from a year ago and edged up 0.2% from the previous month, indicating stubborn and well-anchored inflation in the broader economy.
Nov 15, 2023
Nov 14, 2023