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FINANCE

  • Things getting worse at Sears as Q3 loss widens on sliding sales

    Sears Holdings Corp.’ woes mounted in the third quarter, as the struggling retailer reported its 20th consecutive quarterly loss and another drop in same-store sales.        Although Sears CEO Eddie Lampert said Sears is “fully committed to restoring profitability,” the retailer’s disastrous quarterly performance caused some industry experts to say Sears’ demise is now a matter of when, not if.  

  • Commentary: Sears like Titanic, ‘looks set to sink’

    (Ed. note: Neil Saunders, CEO of Conlumino, comments on Sears Holdings’ third-quarter results.)   In the movie Titanic there is a line where, realizing chaos is about to en-sue, one character helpfully notes “it’s starting to fall apart; we don’t have much time”. Such a sentiment could well be applied to Sears. The analogy with Titanic is also apt; not least because while Sears was once a titan of US retail, it now looks set to sink.  

  • Staples in deal to sell its European operations

    Staples will sell a controlling stake in its European operations to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for an estimated $53.65 million as the retailer continues to focus on North America following its failed take-over of Office Depot.  

  • Newegg reports record-breaking November sales

    Newegg closed the books on its most successful “Black November” to date.   Strong sales from the five-day period of Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday drove a 19.1% year-over-year sales increase. These sales surpassed online shopping as a whole, which increased 15.2% during that same time-rame, according to Adobe Digital Insights, as reported on Nov. 29.   

  • American Apparel seeks to close nine stores before January auction

    The ongoing saga of American Apparel is slowly making its way to a final conclusion.    The beleaguered retailer is seeking court approval to shutter nine poor-performing stores by the end of  December, prior to the auction of its business on Jan. 9, reported The Wall Street Journal, American Apparel filed Chapter 11 in November, its second filing in 15 months.   

  • Starbucks to nearly double store count by 2021; two new formats in works

    Starbucks Corp. unveiled an ambitious five-year strategy that calls for major expansion, includes two new store formats, including freestanding bakeries.      The coffee giant said it plans to plans to open approximately 12,000 new stores globally by 2021, including 5,000 cafes in China. The new round of expansion would bring Starbucks’s total store portfolio to approximately 37,000 locations.   

  • Michaels disappoints in Q3

    Michaels came up short in the third quarter, posting earnings and revenue that missed analysts’ forecasts.   The art and craft retailer reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of 40 cents per diluted share, missing analysts' estimates of 43 cents per share.   Net sales increased 5.0% to $1.227 billion, primarily a result of the acquisition of Lamrite West in February 2016 and sales from 19 additional stores.  

  • Done Deal — for $1.365 billion

    It’s official. Supervalu has finalized the sale of its discount supermarket business, Save-A-Lot, to an affiliate of Onex Corporation for $1.365 billion in cash.   In connection with the closing of the sale, Supervalu and Save-A-Lot have entered into a five-year professional services agreement whereby Supervalu will continue providing certain back office services to Save-A-Lot.  

  • Online and in store, Ulta Beauty soars in Q3

    Ulta Beauty shows no signs of losing its momentum as the chain reported a strong quarter and raised its full-year outlook for the third time this year.   Ulta’s performance was impressive, both in brick-and-mortar and online where its sales jumped nearly 60%. (For commentary, click here.)    

  • Commentary: Ulta in prime position to capitalize on holiday

    Ulta has finished its third quarter with another very impressive set of numbers. Despite lapping some tough comparatives, the pace of growth has quickened with strong uplifts in total and comparable sales, as well as on the bottom line where operating and net income both grew by well over 20%.  
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