Business Analytics

Already navigating tumbling sales, Macy’s is preparing for even tighter margins.   At the company’s annual investor day, Macy’s CFO Karen Hoguet said that second-quarter gross margins are running about 1 percentage point below what they were last year. The company is slashing costs in a bid to maintain its earnings forecast, which it reaffirmed on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.  

Billabong has a new finance chief.   The board sports apparel retailer has named Jim Howell as CFO, effective June 12. He will replace Peter Myers, who has served in the role since January 2013. Howell has spent the last 10 years leading the finance and treasury division at luxury retailer Nordstrom. In this role, he oversaw significant cost management improvements, capital management and growth initiatives.  

High-end kitchenware retailer Sur La Table is on a mission to optimize its individual market and expansion strategies.   “Now, more than ever, being able to localize is the key to success,” said Ben Rosenfeld, senior VP of stores at Sur La Table.  

E-commerce fraud as a percent of sales dollars may be on the decline, however losses still account for billions of dollars.   This was according to the “Q1 2017 Global Fraud Index,” a report from Pymnts.com and Signifyd. The study measures and benchmarks innovations and trends that are reshaping the payments and commerce ecosystem.  

The parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins has ended its hunt for a new chief financial officer.    Following a comprehensive search for a permanent CFO, Dunkin’ Brands has promoted Kate Jaspon to the position, effective June 5, 2017. Jaspon was appointed the company’s interim CFO when Paul Carbone left the position in April to become COO at a specialty retail chain. She will report directly to Dunkin' Brands' CEO Nigel Travis.  

Despite the rash of recent store closings, leasing activity is strong at malls and shopping centers as retailers take advantage of favorable terms.   That’s the take of Mizuho Securities analysts following conversations with major broker organizations at the International Council of Shopping Centers RECon Show in Las Vegas last week.   

Wary about business conditions and jobs, consumer confidence dipped a bit further in May. But consumer still remain optimistic on the whole about the economy.     The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 117.9 in May, from a revised 119.4 in April. The index hit 124.9 in March, its highest mark in 16 years.  

Big Lots provided an upbeat outlook and posted a strong first quarter, beating profit expectations.    The chain reported income of $51.5 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, for the quarter ended April 29, 2017, which easily beat Wall Street expectations. This compares to $38.7 million, or 79 cents a share, in the year-ago period.  

Costco Wholesale Corp. came roaring back in its third quarter as it topped analysts' earnings and sales expectations amid strong U.S. sales.   

Dollar Tree's profit declined in the first quarter amid an impairment charge related to its divesture to Dollar Express.