Walmart Blames Taxes, Weather as Sales Fall
Walmart's first-quarter earnings report shows a drop in sales, which it blames on taxes and lousy weather.
Walmart's first-quarter earnings report shows a drop in sales, which it blames on taxes and lousy weather.
J.C. Penney today opens its first store-within-the-store boutiques. They'll offer home goods from designers such as Michael Graves, Jonathan Adler and Sir Terence Conran.
Best Buy reported better-than-expected numbers for its fourth quarter, but CEO Hubert Joly also confirmed that buyout talks with founder Richard Schulze have failed.
Bloomberg got its hands on some internal emails exchanged by Walmart executives discussing recent sales figures, and they paint a grim picture of the situation at the world's largest retailer. Asks one executive: "Where are all the customers? And where's their money?"
President Obama's State of the Union proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour has the retail industry on edge and fast food stocks struggling.
The stock market edged higher on Thursday as investors waited for more indications on the health of U.S. companies from earnings reports. Economic reports were mixed.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc's full-year profit may miss analysts' expectations as growth slows in its international markets, pressuring the company even as its U.S. discount stores continue to prosper.
It's going to be a busy week for retailers as more than a dozen publicly traded chains offer up their latest quarterly financials. But regardless of how popular a diversion shopping is, don't assume that crowded malls are translating into blowout results for major retailers.
The stock market's recent bounce has a lot of folks looking for a piece of the action. And with retail stocks shooting up faster than average, but still cheaper than a year ago, some analysts say now's the time to buy them. They're wrong. Here's why:
Macy's is raising its earnings outlook for the fourth quarter and full year due to a strong holiday season and says it will double its quarterly dividend to 20 cents a share. The retailer is also increasing its share repurchase program by $1 billion. The announcements came as the department store operator reported Thursday that a key measure of its December sales rose faster than analysts had expected.
Every portfolio can use a little refreshing. Why not consider hhgregg, the consumer electronics and appliance retailer that's growing fast at the same time that Best Buy is suffering, battered by the internet?
While well-known retail stocks like Wal-Mart and Best Buy get most of investors' attention, another path to investment success is to find and buy misunderstood or overlooked stocks. Ascena Retail Group and rue21 are two such stocks, relative unknowns that are performing quite well in today's difficult economic climate.
Despite the dismal economy, some investors have been snapping up teen retail stocks, driving their prices higher. But the combination of high fashion and high prices doesn't necessarily earn a company a premium price tag, or a place in a well-managed portfolio. Keep these metrics in mind to separate the bargains from the poseurs.
Retail stocks surged Thursday, as June same-store sales sparked investor euphoria. The jump probably stood out even more sharply against a still-tough economy for many U.S. consumers. However, if this sudden elation has you thinking about snapping up retail shares yourself, make sure you shop with more than a little caution.
Home retailers Bed Bath & Beyond and Pier 1 Imports are scheduled to post quarterly earnings this week, along with Monsanto, the biotech, agriculture and chemical giant. Here's what analysts expect to see.
Supermarket chains like Kroger and Safeway have posted a string of strong quarterly earnings. But with the costs of gas and agricultural products spiking, that could all change.
Retailers are forecasting a strong 2011 as the economy continues to pick up speed. A boost in retail sales is good news, of course. But what, exactly, will it do for your wallet? And how will higher gasoline and clothing prices play out in the mall and in your portfolio?
After a holiday season that marked a return to some form of normalcy, merchants are bracing for a year of mild sales growth and more stable operations. Whether that momentum holds is an open question, given the state of the housing and job markets.
Spending for the lovers' holiday this year is expected to climb 5.8% over 2009, and that spells opportunity for investors. Here are some greeting card, candy, jewelry, flower and restaurant stocks that could get a lift from sweethearts looking for that special something.
Many shoppers who took advantage of the early holiday sales in November held back and forced retailers to cut prices as Christmas neared. Despite increases in luxury spending, the results show that mainstream consumers remain focused on discounts.
This global designer, maker and retailer of fine jewelry and other gift items went through the recession like it never happened. The Tiffany name is globally known, yet analysts agree it has plenty of room to expand in the U.S. and worldwide.
On Wall Street, the retail sales figures that count aren't absolute numbers. Investors act based on how those numbers compare to what was expected, and in the case of Black Friday Internet sales, reality beat the predictions. That's good news for Amazon.
The nation's three biggest department-store operators have been disproportionately pinched by the downturn in consumer spending. That's what happens when you're stuck in the middle of the retail-price spectrum during a period of sagging home values and lofty unemployment. [Video]
The giant retailer's profits grew 9% in the third quarter to $3.4 billion. But revenue disappointed analysts, mainly due to a small decline in U.S. sales. Still, the company raised its future earnings guidance.
Fund manager Neil Hennessy believes investors should target retail stocks that are likely to thrive in slow-growth economic conditions -- but which also stand to benefit when the economy picks up again. Here are some of his favorites.
Retail stocks tend to rise ahead of other sectors in the early stages of an economic recovery, and so far, following a familiar pattern, both up-market and discount chains have benefited at the expense of middle-market players. So is it time to buy stock in wholesale clubs?
Some merchants adjusted quickly to the "new normal" of penny-pinching shoppers, but others are still struggling with shrinking consumer budgets or headwinds they were fighting before the bottom fell out. Here's a look at the two groups that are going in two different directions.


























