Company Earnings Update | February 4, 2019 Register for Free Access Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) 4Q18 Results: In-Line Quarter, Softer 2019 Due to Department Store ClosuresIn 2018, the company opened two new shopping destinations, completed five significant property transformations and started construction on several redevelopments of former department store spaces. During 2018, the company closed on 22 mortgage loans totaling approximately $3.2 billion, , of which Simon’s share is approximately $1.3 billion. These loans carry a weighted average interest rate and weighted average term of 3.69% and 8.1 years, respectively. Read More
Company Earnings Update | February 4, 2019 Register for Free Access Unilever (LSE: ULVR) FY18 Results: Accelerating Growth to be Priority, Followed by AgilityUnilever reported revenue of €50.98 billion, slightly behind consensus of €51.06 billion and down 5.1% from FY17 due to adverse currency impacts. Organic sales were up 2.9% year over year, driven by strong growth in Asia/AMET (Africa, Middle East, Turkey)/RUB (Russia, Ukraine and Belarus) region, yet slightly below consensus of 3.0%. Unilever noted that gross margin improved 50 bps to 43.6%, but did not disclose gross profit numbers. Operating margin rose to 24.6%, 810 bps above previous year. Unilever grew its underlying operating margin from 17.5% in FY17 to 18.4% in FY18. Diluted EPS increased 61.9% to €3.48. Read More
Company Earnings Update | February 4, 2019 Register for Free Access Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) 4Q18 Results: Beats Consensus Estimates, Guidance Below ConsensusNorth America revenues were $44.1 billion, up 18.3% year over year, posting operating income of $1.7 billion, compared to a profit of $1.7 billion in the year-ago quarter. International revenues were $20.8 billion, up 15.5% year over year, posting an operating loss of $0.6 billion, compared to a loss of $0.9 billion in the year-ago quarter. AWS revenues were $7.4 billion, up 45.3% year over year, posting an operating profit of $2.2 billion, compared to $1.4 billion in the year-ago quarter. Read More
Company Earnings Update | February 1, 2019 Register for Free Access Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) 3Q19 Results: Solid Growth Driven by Core Commerce and Cloud SegmentsManagement noted uncertainty around China’s economy but believes that new initiatives in cloud services and entertainment as well as global expansion will help offset the impact of China’s slowing economic growth. Southeast Asia remains one of the key areas of focus for the near term. Read More
Company Earnings Update | February 1, 2019 Register for Free Access Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) 4Q18 Results: Beats Consensus Estimates, Guidance in Line with ConsensusTractor Supply reported Q4 revenues of $2.13 billion, up 9.2% year over year and above the $2.10 billion consensus estimate. Comps were 5.7%, beating the 3.7% consensus estimate and comprising a 3.0% increase in average ticket and a 2.6% increase in transaction count. All geographic regions and all major product categories had positive comps. Continued strength in everyday merchandise in the consumable, usable and edible categories helped drive comps, in addition to strong sales of winter and other seasonal products. Read More
Company Earnings Update | February 1, 2019 Register for Free Access H&M (STO: HM-B) FY18 Results: Logistics Upgrade Proves a Drag on ProfitsFor 1Q19, the company expects markdowns to be around 1 percentage point lower compared to the year-ago period and expects to see continued improvement in inventory, led by strong collections and increased full-price sales. Net sales for the period December 1, 2018 to January 28, 2019, increased 4% year over year in local currencies. In FY19, the company plans to open around 335 new stores, of which around 240 will be H&M stores. H&M plans to close 160 stores. The company will open new logistics centers outside Madrid and north of London at the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020. Read More
Company Earnings Update | February 1, 2019 Register for Free Access LVMH (ENXTPA: MC) FY18 Results: Fashion and Leather Goods Set the PaceLVMH full-year sales rose 9.8% to €46.8 billion. Currency exchange rates adversely impacted full year sales results by (400) bps. Online sales rose approximately 27-28%, to €3.7 billion and now represent 8% of consolidated 2018 revenues. Fashion and leather goods set the sales pace, achieving 15% organic growth in 2018. The Louis Vuitton brand has surpassed €10 billion annually and the fashion and leather goods segment now represents 39% of consolidated 2018 revenues, up from 36% in 2017. Read More
Company Earnings Update | January 31, 2019 Register for Free Access eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) 4Q18 and FY18 Results: Steady Growth, More Returns for ShareholderseBay reported revenues of $2.88 billion in 4Q18, up 6.3% year over year and beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 billion recorded by Bloomberg. GMV was $24.6 billion, up 1% as reported and 2% on a currency-neutral basis. Gross margin increased 31 basis points to 78.5% and operating margin decreased 82 basis points to 23.7%. Non-GAAP diluted EPS increased 20.3% to $0.71, beating consensus of $0.68. Read More
Flash Report | January 30, 2019 Register for Free Access Walgreens Boots Alliance Bags Over 60 Shopko Stores After Bankruptcy Court Approves BidsGeneral merchandise retailer Shopko filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 16, 2019. The company attributed its petition for financial restructuring to “excess debt and ongoing competitive pressures.” The retailer stated it would close an additional 38 stores this year, in addition to the 67 previously earmarked for closure, relocate 20 optical centers to freestanding locations and auction off its pharmacy business. Read More
Flash Report | January 30, 2019 Register for Free Access Unilever Expands Home Care Portfolio with the Acquisition of The LaundressOn January 28, Unilever announced it had acquired The Laundress, a premium detergent and fabric care company headquartered in New York. The Laundress was founded in 2004 by Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd after two years of research yielded a non-toxic line of laundry and home cleaning products. The portfolio now includes over 85 eco-friendly products. Unilever said The Laundress will continue to operate from its New York City headquarters and that the two founders will remain in place to lead the business and operate the brand’s flagship store in New York. Read More
Company Earnings Update | January 29, 2019 Register for Free Access Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) 4Q18 Results: Driving Growth Through Acquisition, Innovation and ProductColgate-Palmolive reported net sales of $3.81 billion for the three months ended December 31, 2018, down 2.1% year over year but ahead of the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion recorded by StreetAccount. Group organic sales, which exclude the effects of currency movements, acquisitions and divestments, increased 2.0%. Operating income came in at $900 million, down 3.6% year over year. Gross margin decreased 70 basis points to 59.1% and operating margin fell 36 basis points to 23.4%. Read More
Insight Report | January 29, 2019 Premium New Retail Briefing # 2: Alibaba Steps Up Partnerships, NetEase Kaola Opens Flagship StoreAlibaba launched the “A100 Strategic Partnership” program in January 2019 to help partner brands digitalize by giving them access to resources within its ecosystem so participating brands can access Alibaba services in 11 areas to enhance online-offline business integration. Alibaba will also assign a dedicated team to serve each participating brand. Read More
Flash Report | January 29, 2019 Register for Free Access Legacy UK Retailers Tesco and Marks & Spencer Think Radically to Expand Margins and Revive Revenue GrowthIn a press release on January 29, Tesco confirmed plans to close fresh-food counters in around 90 stores, with 700 further stores retaining a “full or flexible” counter offer. It will also simplify stock management at store level, close store canteens and make job cuts at its head office. The company estimates that up to 9,000 roles could be impacted but it expects up to half of these people could be redeployed. Read More
Company Profile | January 29, 2019 Premium B&M European Value Retail (LSE: BME) Company ProfileB&M European Value Retail SA (B&M) is a UK-based retailer that offers a range of food and beverages, fast-moving consumer goods brands, and nongrocery products. The company offers products in the home and furniture, electrical goods, health and beauty, food and drink, and clothing and footwear categories, among others. Read More
Event Presentation | January 28, 2019 Premium 10 Global Retail Trends and 10 Startup TrendsThis presentation discusses 10 global retail trends and 10 startup trends. Read More
