Target, Walmart Earnings Selloff Puts Retailers' Inflation Pains on Display - 19 mai 2022
Many large companies, including retailers, have been able to increase profits during the Covid-19 pandemic even while facing rising costs for shipping and staffing. Passing along price increases to customers while cutting expenses has been a common path to raising profit margins, but the latest results suggest there might be limits to that strategy amid current economic conditions.
The broader concerns within the retail and consumer-goods sectors weighed on companies including Best Buy Co. (US.BBY), Macy’s Inc. (US.M), Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. (US.DKS), Dollar General Corp. (US.DG) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (US.COST) in Wednesday trading. Shares of those companies dropped more than 10% on Wednesday. Lowe’s (US.LOW) Cos. said comparable sales fell 4% in its first quarter, driven lower by cooler weather and reduced spending from consumers completing their own home renovations. Home Depot Inc. (US.HD) reported a quarterly sales increase of 3.8%, but said fewer shoppers visited the home-improvement chain’s stores.