Walmart Results Paint Rosy Picture Ahead of Retailer Earnings Despite Inflation

Feb 23, 2022

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Key Takeaways:

  • (NYSE:) foreshadows excellent news forward for retail earnings, and the likelihood that customers are nonetheless lively regardless of document inflation

  • Retail earnings begin in earnest this week with outcomes from residence enchancment (HD, LOW), malls (M) and journey & leisure (BKNG, NCLH)

  • Potential surprises this week: eBay (NASDAQ:) and Molson Coors (NYSE:) Brewing

  • This fall peak earnings season set to conclude this week, with February 24 anticipated to be the busiest day

Walmart Units the Tone for Retailers this Week

As we head into the ultimate peak week of the This fall season, the retail earnings parade will probably be in full power. Retail earnings kicked off with Walmart’s outcomes on Thursday, beating prime and bottom-line expectations and elevating their dividend one penny (a pattern we famous we’re seeing extra of this quarter). The world’s largest retailer is commonly seen as a bellwether for the reviews that observe, and there have been some fascinating takeaways from Walmart’s earnings name, significantly round inflation.

Whereas shoppers proceed to digest the very best inflation in 40 years and the top of presidency stimulus, Walmart stays assured of their means to cross on larger prices to prospects as they did within the newest quarter, noting that buying tendencies haven’t modified. And regardless of continued supply-chain points, WMT was in a position to improve world stock 26% whereas different retailers proceed to wrestle to maintain cabinets stocked.

A few of Walmart’s commentary was in distinction to what we’ve seen from different S&P 500 firms this season. In line with FactSet, 75% of firms have talked about the affect of inflation on latest outcomes, largely as a destructive headwind. As extra retailers report within the weeks to return, traders will probably be seeking to see if these names are in a position to cross elevated costs onto consumers as nicely.

Total EPS progress for the now stands at 30.9% (solely up 0.6 share factors since final week) with YoY revenues up 15.5%. (Information from FactSet

The Retail Parade Continues with Dwelling Enchancment Names and Division Shops

This week we’ll hear from different must-watch retailers comparable to Dwelling Depot (NYSE:) and Lowe’s. Each names proceed to learn from elevated residence enchancment tendencies that began in the course of the pandemic, and proceed as residence costs stay traditionally elevated. Usually when residence costs rise we additionally see a leap in residence enchancment spending, as these being priced out of the market resolve to remain of their present properties and go the renovation route.

Different names on this area embody on-line residence decor and furnishings retailers. Whereas they benefited from these tendencies in 2020 and 2021, many are actually struggling. Wayfair (NYSE:) and Overstock.com (NASDAQ:) are each out this week, and after posting triple digit revenue and/or gross sales progress throughout peak pandemic quarters are actually anticipating YoY decreases in revenues as they continue to be beneath strain to point out they will maintain the excessive progress figures they produced over the past two years. If Shopify’s outcomes from final week are any indication, then anticipate different e-commerce retailers to be exhausting pressed to maintain up with document outcomes seen from the pandemic bump.

We additionally start to listen to from the malls this week, beginning with Macy’s tomorrow morning. Third quarter revenue progress of 747% shocked even probably the most bullish analysts, as Macy’s was in a position to courtroom youthful prospects by increasing into newer classes and enhancing their omni channel providing. Final week the inventory rallied as Evercore ISI upgraded the retailer to outperform partially resulting from pent up attire demand.

Corporations within the journey and leisure area proceed to report this week as nicely, as we glance to outcomes from Reserving (NASDAQ:).com and Norwegian Cruise Strains. Get able to see some quadruple digit progress charges on the again of enhancing journey demand – Reserving is anticipated to report YoY EPS progress of 2440% after reporting within the crimson final 12 months, and Norwegian is anticipating top-line progress of 5869%. Motels chains comparable to Hilton and Marriott blew expectations out of the water once they reported nicely above analyst estimates final week, and Airbnb (additionally shocking to the upside) famous that US and European reserving lead instances had returned to pre pandemic ranges.

The general Client Discretionary sector of the S&P 500 continues to guide on the bottom-line with YoY progress of 49.6%, however stays the fourth largest laggard on the top-line with solely 11.4% progress. (Information from FactSet)

Top Earnings Announcements This Week

High Earnings Bulletins This Week

Chart knowledge supplied by Wall Road Horizon

Potential Surprises this Week – EBAY, TAP

eBay, Inc. (EBAY)
Firm Confirmed Report Date: Wednesday, February 23, AMC
Projected Report Date (primarily based on historic knowledge): Wednesday, February 2
Z-Rating: 7.91

Since 2006, eBay has reported This fall earnings ends in a variety from January 18 – February 3, usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday. As such we set a report date of February 2. On January 24 the corporate confirmed they’d report on February 23, three weeks later than we had anticipated primarily based on their historic reporting vary, suggesting there could also be dangerous information shared on the upcoming name.

Earlier than Q2 earnings we additionally seen eBay had a excessive z-score once they confirmed a report date that was two weeks later than anticipated. Nonetheless, we had been conscious that one other potential motive for this may very well be resulting from latest administration adjustments. In Might, eBay issued a press launch stating it could deliver on a brand new CFO. Scott Priest, previously CFO of Jetblue, formally took his new publish on June 21. For Q3 the report date reverted to the historic norm.

Molson Coors Brewing Co (TAP)
Firm Confirmed Report Date: Wednesday, February 23, BMO
Projected Report Date (primarily based on historic knowledge): Thursday, February 10
Z-Rating: 7.81

Molson Coors Brewing has traditionally reported This fall outcomes anyplace from February 9 – 16, with no day of the week pattern. As such we set a report date of February 10. On January 19 the corporate confirmed they’d report on February 23, two weeks later than we had anticipated, suggesting outcomes for the quarter might shock to the draw back.

Earnings Wave

This week marks the ultimate peak week of This fall earnings season. February 24 is predicted to be probably the most lively day with 746 firms anticipated to report. At this level 72% of firms have confirmed (out of our universe of 9,500+ world names).

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