Posted on 11/13/2007 12:52:36 PM PST by NormsRevenge
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - A year after its worst holiday sales season ever, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. may rebound to have a good season after finding the right mix of merchandise and marketing to complement its return to a focus on low prices.
A whiff of this already showed up when the nation's largest retailer posted third-quarter earnings Tuesday of $2.86 billion, an 8 percent rise that beat Wall Street expectations.
The company earned 70 cents per share, up from 62 cents per share in the same period a year ago. The 70 cents includes an after-tax gain equal to 1 cent per share. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had forecast earnings of 67 cents per share on revenue of $91.67 billion
Wal-Mart had revenue of $91.95 billion in the period ending Oct. 31, up 8.8 percent from $84.47 billion a year ago.
Wal-Mart shares spiked $2.82, or 6.5 percent, to $46.14 by midday Tuesday.
Retail experts say Wal-Mart's flagship U.S. stores may be in the midst of a turnaround after two years of a zigzag course between upscale and discount goods that has slowed sales growth.
Third-quarter sales at stores open at least a year, not counting fuel, were up 1.5 percent in the company's U.S. stores, same as a year ago. The company expects same-store sales for the fourth quarter to rise no more than 2 percent.
Michael P. Niemira, chief economist and director of research for the International Council of Shopping Centers, said an uncertain economy will send more shoppers to discounters for holiday purchases. Even if Wal-Mart's core lower income shoppers spend less, consumers with more money are likely to switch to discounters including Wal-Mart, he said.
At the same time, Niemira said Wal-Mart is working to address past problems.
"I actually think they may perform remarkably well this holiday season," Niemira said.
Last November, Wal-Mart reported its first negative monthly same-store sales in a decade as a push into higher-end fashion and home decor sold poorly and muddied its low-price image. For the period November through January, which includes most sales from gift cards redeemed after the holidays, same-store sales slowed to 1.3 percent last year from 7.2 percent in 2001/2002.
Wal-Mart's early start in this year's holiday came under a cloud when it reported October same-store sales were flat for the namesake stores, minus Sam's Clubs, on the back of unseasonably warm weather that hit sales of clothes and other seasonal goods.
But Craig R. Johnson, president of consultancy Customer Growth Partners, said Wal-Mart has started a turnaround that is based in part on attractive prices on name-brand items in electronics and toys, two key holiday categories.
"My sense is that they are on the turnaround trail and that they will have a decent, a solid if not spectacular Christmas," Johnson said.
Even some Wal-Mart skeptics are coming around. Portfolio manager Patricia Edwards from Wentworth, Hauser & Violich in Seattle, which sold most if its Wal-Mart stock in 2005, said she now believes the chain is getting it right after a period of losing its edge.
Edwards said Wal-Mart is finding the right mix of merchandise that people want at competitive discount prices and doing so in remodeled stores with friendlier service. It has also changed its marketing to advertise those points, she said.
"The interesting thing is that they have it right, and they have it right at what I believe is going to be the right time," she said. As the housing and credit crunch squeeze middle income consumers, they will probably stretch their dollars by trading down to discount stores, like they did when the tech bubble burst in 2000, Edwards said.
President and Chief Executive Officer Lee Scott said the company is showing improving trends in sales of home and apparel, an area in which Wal-Mart unsuccessfully sought to market to higher-income shoppers. Wal-Mart has switched back to its emphasis on price.
"During the Christmas and holiday season, our price leadership position will benefit both our customers and the company. We have set the stage for a successful fourth quarter," Scott said in a recorded call Tuesday.
Wal-Mart expects earnings for the fourth quarter to be between 99 cents per share and $1.03 per share. Earnings for the full year should be between $3.13 and $3.17, including a $40 million restructuring charge, the company said. Analysts project quarterly earnings per share of $1.02 and full-year profit of $3.09 per share.
Johnson from Customer Growth Partners said a good example for Wal-Mart's improved approach this year was its first round of holiday specials launched the Friday after Halloween, as several large retailers tried to jump-start consumer demand by offering early doorbuster specials.
Wal-Mart's specials included a Toshiba high-definition DVD player for $98.97. Johnson said it was an excellent move because it offered something people actually want at a steep discount to previous pricing upward of $250.
"These are not last-minute sales because merchandise was not moving. This was planned long in advance with the buyers to get great deals from suppliers," Johnson said.
Best Buy reacted by offering the same high-definition DVD player for $99.99, according to Web site Consumerist.com, and when it ran out filled orders with the more expensive successor model at the same discount price.
Johnson said that shows that Wal-Mart has not lost its impact on the rest of retail.
"Any retailer who underestimates Wal-Mart does so at its own peril," he said.
Other chains, like Toys R Us and KB Toys, may not match all of Wal-Mart's "rollbacks", but that doesn't mean they're not watching and shaping their marketing and pricing plans with some eye to the competition, said Steve Hoch, professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
"Part of that might be that experience has taught them that trying to fight Wal-Mart with aggressive prices is not worth it since Wal-Mart will not be undercut," Hoch said.
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AP Business Writer Chuck Bartels in Little Rock, Ark., contributed to this story.
A woman leaves a Wal-Mart store, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007, in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007 posted third-quarter profits of $2.86 billion and upped its projected earnings for the year as it heads into the holiday shopping season. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Stocks rally, oil drops; Dow up 300
LAUREN VILLAGRAN, AP Business Writer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071113/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/wall_street;_ylt=AhjOfM8vzmTYEdemLHb.4GMT5LIF
NEW YORK - Wall Street shot higher Tuesday, lifting the Dow Jones industrials more than 270 points after reassuring news from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. quelled some of the market’s worst fears about the credit crisis and the economy. A plunge in the price of oil gave investors further incentive to buy.
Goldman Sachs said it didn’t expect a significant hit from the subprime mortgage turmoil. Goldman Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, speaking at a conference held by Merrill Lynch & Co., said the bank has a short position in the subprime mortgage market and won’t be taking any significant charges to write off losses.
Goldman’s news helped offset an announcement from Bank of America Inc., which joined other big financial companies including Citigroup Inc. and Merrill Lynch that have recently revealed heavy writedowns from soured mortgages; BofA said it will record $3 billion in pretax writedowns in the fourth quarter.
Investors have been anxiously waiting to see how much fallout there would be in the financial services industry from months of credit market problems, so they were heartened by Goldman’s news.
“People just want to know what’s out there,” said Todd Leone, managing director of equity trading at Cowen & Co. “They want to feel like they’re being told the truth.”
Meanwhile, Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, reported third-quarter profit surpassed projections and hinted that consumer spending might be stronger than anticipated this holiday shopping season. The results also showed that heavy discounting during the period did not hurt margins, which the company said bodes well for the fourth quarter.
A sharp pullback in energy prices also encouraged Wall Street. Oil prices plummeted after the International Energy Agency reduced its expectations for demand in the fourth quarter and next year and said crude supplies are growing. Light, sweet crude for December delivery fell $3.45 to settle at $91.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
In late trading, the Dow rose 276.62, or 2.13 percent, to 13,264.17.
A day ago, a turbulent session pushed the Dow below 13,000 for the first time since August. Tuesday’s advance snapped a four-day losing streak for the blue chip index.
“Over the last week there has been so much bloodshed on the Street, it’s finally enticed people back to the market,” said Ryan Larson, senior equity trader at Voyageur Asset Management. “At some point, it’s hard to turn your head when all these issues become so cheap.”
Broader indexes were also higher. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index jumped 34.20, or 2.38 percent, to 1,473.38 and the Nasdaq composite index was up 74.90, or 2.90 percent, at 2,659.03.
Bonds fell as investors moved back into stocks. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 4.26 percent from 4.22 percent late Friday. The market was closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day.
Gold prices declined, settling at $799 an ounce on the Nymex. It was the first close below $800 since Nov. 2. The dollar was mixed.
Investors were expected to position their portfolios ahead of key economic data out during the week. Two key barometers of inflation and the economy will be released, with the Labor Department’s Producer Price Index on Wednesday and the Consumer Price Index on Thursday.
News in the troubled housing market was mixed Tuesday, but didn’t spoil Wall Street’s rally. The National Association of Realtors said its index for pending home sales edged higher in September at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.2 percent to 85.7 from 85.5 in August. It was the first increase since June. However, the trade group said it expects the market slump to worsen into 2008.
In stocks, Goldman shares gained $17.79, or 8.3 percent, to $232.50, while Bank of America added $2.06, or 4.7 percent, to $46.04.
Wal-Mart spiked $2.87, or 6.6 percent, to $46.19 after the retailer said quarterly profit rose 8 percent as it heads into the holiday shopping season. Chief Executive Officer Lee Scott said it has been a tough year for consumers, but that the company’s new focus on pricing is paying off.
TJX Cos. — the operator of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls — reported third-quarter profit rose 13 percent. Results, which missed Wall Street expectations, were hurt by unseasonably warm early fall weather. Shares added $1.00, or 3.4 percent, $30.32.
Home Depot Inc., the world’s largest home improvement chain, reported third-quarter results fell 26.8 percent because of the continuing slump in the housing sector. Shares rose 61 cents, up 2.1 percent, to $29.07.
Troubled lender Countrywide Financial Corp. said total mortgage origination volume fell 48 percent in October due to continued weakening of the mortgage market and the company’s decision to cut down on its subprime lending operations. However, shares rose 53 cents, or 3.9 percent, to $13.72 after Countrywide said it significantly reduced some of its riskier loans that triggered recent financial problems.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 18.54, or 2.42 percent, to 785.63.
Advancing issues led decliners by roughly 4 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where 1.15 billion shares were traded.
Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average closed down 0.46 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.50 percent. In afternoon trading in Europe, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.39 percent, Germany’s DAX index fell 0.38 percent, while France’s CAC-40 added 0.06 percent.
___
On the Net:
New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com
Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com
NOT!
Are those scooters free to use for fat people or do they charge for them?
I think they’re free,, you could move an aircraft with those things, they should require a license..
“Gentlemen, start your engines”, Let the Wal-Mart bashing begin.............!
DJIA 13307.09 +319.54
NASDAQ 2673.65 +89.52
GO USA!
THink global, Buy local.
Those powered chairs certainly aren’t street legal, but I see them all the time being used on the streets. Wonder if you hit one of them, who would get the ticket and or lawsuit?
“Two behemoths in motorized scooters almost ran me over when I visited Walmart in the States. It scared the living daylights out of me.”
Yeah I’ll bet you didn’t know they have the right to pretty much plow you down where you stand.
I actually told an elderly lady that I thought she was being rude. She said, “I can’t walk, that’s why I have to be in one of these” to which I responded, “So that gives you the right to just fly around the corner of the aisle?”
Good thing the MSM wasn’t around, I would’ve been painted as attacking the elderly.
LOL!!
Back to basics re low prices and tv ads noting that.
Also, upping the quality of what is available like the Toshiba DVD player and Sony HDTVs.
Better quality at lower prices, the American way. Also, when we buy at Walmart, we $crew the unions and the politicians they fund.
My 87 year old mother owns one of those but doesn't use it. She leans on a shopping cart as she pushes it instead. She said she doesn't want people to think she is just being lazy.
Can’t wait for Black Friday (got told that was racist today btw...) so I can buy a new HDTV. My wife has started to say we need to get a new TV and Walmart actually sells them at a price I like...still too expensive but now that the wife is saying new TV I gotta do it now instead of when the FCC says I have to.
Ping. Good old Wal-Mart thread.
Some of them are as bad in those as they are on the street, but one thing might help—they can’t reach the good stuff on the higher shelves. LOL
“Two behemoths in motorized scooters almost ran me over”
If someone behind me in a Wallyworld line puts a cart on or near my rear `bumper’, I sit on it.
If a happy shopper is blocking the aisle, oblivious as she compares bottles of pickles, I don’t bother with please and thank you, I just say, `Would you move your cart?’
If a motorized scooter makes threatening motions, I crouch down over my cart, elbows bent, ready for `ramming speed’ . . .
I don’t bump people with my cart, hog the lane or careen around the store, and expect the same consideration from others.
My old grocery store that the Walmart put out of business wasn’t this way: you didn’t have to put on an imaginary Tiger II Pkw commander’s uniform before entering the store, but that’s life I s’pose.
Best defense of Wal-Mart I've read in a while.
It’s my personal belief that Walmart is a countercyclical stock. With gas spiking, people are flocking back to make their dollars stretch.
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