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Walmart, Target, Macy's, Foot Locker, Lowe's are part of Zacks Earnings Preview
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – November 21, 2022 – Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This week’s list includes Walmart (WMT - Free Report) , Target (TGT - Free Report) , Macy's (M - Free Report) , Foot Locker (FL - Free Report) and Lowe's (LOW - Free Report) .
Breaking Down Retail Earnings that Highlight Slower Consumer Spending
It is no surprise that the combined weight of elevated inflation, rising interest rates and uncertainty about the economy have forced consumers to change their spending behavior.
The issue has undoubtedly been at play with lower-income households for some time now. But we can intuitively appreciate that it will not stay restricted to this consumer segment alone and will most likely move up the income chain in the days and weeks ahead.
We saw some of that in the Walmart report that showed the retailer benefiting from higher-income consumers 'trading down' to its stores in response to the aforementioned headwinds.
The retail business is a tough and competitive space even in 'normal' times and these are anything but normal times. They need just the right amount of inventory, otherwise they will either lose sales if they don't have enough merchandise as was the case earlier in the pandemic, or will need to offer steeper discounts and hurt margins if they have too much of it, as we saw with Walmart and Target in the summer quarter.
Retailers also need to make sure that they have the right type of merchandise, as we saw with Target and Walmart having too much stuff like patio furniture that consumers weren't interested in buying any more after the initial pandemic boom. Keeping stores fully staffed in a tight labor market and ensuring just the right amount of price discounts are some of the other challenges that big-box operators like Walmart, Target and others face daily.
It all comes down to execution and management effectiveness.
With respect to the group's Q3 earnings releases, it has been a mixed show overall. In a backdrop of moderating and shifting consumer spending behavior, some retailers have been more successful than others. Walmart was better, Target was not. Macy's, Foot Locker and Lowe's executed really well, but others didn't.
With respect to the Retail sector 2022 Q3 earnings season scorecard, we now have results from 29 of the 34 retailers in the S&P 500 index.
Unlike the official S&P sector classifications that leaves retail sector players spread around different sectors, primarily Consumer Discretionary, Zacks' stand-along Retail sector classification that houses conventional retailers, digital players and restaurants allows for a more granular understanding of trends in the space.
Total Q3 earnings for these retailers are down -5.5% from the same period last year on +8.6% higher revenues, with 72.4% beating EPS estimates and 58.6% beating revenue estimates.
Retailers have been struggling to come out with positive surprises thus far, though it's a better showing relative to what we saw from the group 2022 Q2.
With respect to the earnings and revenue growth rates, Amazon's weak numbers play a significant role in the year-over-year growth rate for the sector (Amazon is part of the Zacks Retail sector, and not the Zacks Technology sector).
Q3 Earnings Season Scorecard
Including all of the results that came through Friday, November 18th, we now have Q3 results from 476 S&P 500 members that combined account for 95.2% of the index's total membership.
For the 476 index members that have reported results already, total earnings are up +1.8% from the same period last year on +11.8% higher revenues, with 69.1% beating EPS estimates and 68.3% beating revenue estimates.
The EPS and revenue beats percentages are below what we had seen from this same group of companies in recent quarters, but otherwise within the historical range by now.
Tracking Earnings Estimate Revisions
The global economy is going through a synchronized slowdown, under the combined effects of rising interest rates in response to inflationary pressures, still-lingering logistical challenges that have started to ease up and China's continuing zero-Covid restrictions.
The orange bars in the chart above represent revenue growth. So, for 2022 Q3, revenues are on track to grow +11.6% from the same period last year even though earnings are only expected to be up only +1.6%. This seemingly elevated revenue growth is a direct function of pricing power, with companies able to pass on rising input costs to end consumers. We intuitively know that this can't go on forever and current projections for the next three quarters bears out this intuition.
The above chart shows that earnings in the current period (2022 Q4) are expected to be down -5.1% below the year-earlier level on +4.6% higher revenues.
Estimates have been steadily coming down, in line with the trend that we saw ahead of the start of the Q3 earnings season. Estimates for full-year 2023 have been coming down as well, with the negative revisions trend particularly notable on an ex-Energy basis.
Since mid-April, 2023 earnings estimates in the aggregate have come down by -8.6% for the S&P 500 index as a whole and -11.5% on an ex-Energy basis.
The cuts to estimates have been particularly notable for the Tech (down -18.9% since mid-April), Construction (-25.1%), Retail (-18.6%), Industrial Products (-14.3%), Consumer Discretionary (-19.3%) and Aerospace (-13.4%). Overall, estimates have been cut for 13 of the 16 Zacks sectors.
There are some in the market who think that 2023 earnings should be below the 2022 level instead of the current expected +2.8% growth simply because the U.S. economy is expected to go through a moderate recession.
I am not suggesting that 2023 earnings can't be below the 2022 level; they can be, and based on the current revisions trend, are likely headed there. But it is wrong to expect moderate declines in 'real' GDP to automatically result in 'nominal' or non-inflation adjusted corporate earnings to also decline. Corporate revenues and earnings are 'nominal' values and will reflect the effects of inflation. Inflation is expected to come down in 2023, but nevertheless remain positive.
Our 5 best-performing strategies have blown away the S&P's impressive +28.8% gain in 2021. Amazingly, they soared +40.3%, +48.2%, +67.6%, +94.4%, and +95.3%. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Walmart, Target, Macy's, Foot Locker, Lowe's are part of Zacks Earnings Preview
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – November 21, 2022 – Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This week’s list includes Walmart (WMT - Free Report) , Target (TGT - Free Report) , Macy's (M - Free Report) , Foot Locker (FL - Free Report) and Lowe's (LOW - Free Report) .
Breaking Down Retail Earnings that Highlight Slower Consumer Spending
It is no surprise that the combined weight of elevated inflation, rising interest rates and uncertainty about the economy have forced consumers to change their spending behavior.
The issue has undoubtedly been at play with lower-income households for some time now. But we can intuitively appreciate that it will not stay restricted to this consumer segment alone and will most likely move up the income chain in the days and weeks ahead.
We saw some of that in the Walmart report that showed the retailer benefiting from higher-income consumers 'trading down' to its stores in response to the aforementioned headwinds.
The retail business is a tough and competitive space even in 'normal' times and these are anything but normal times. They need just the right amount of inventory, otherwise they will either lose sales if they don't have enough merchandise as was the case earlier in the pandemic, or will need to offer steeper discounts and hurt margins if they have too much of it, as we saw with Walmart and Target in the summer quarter.
Retailers also need to make sure that they have the right type of merchandise, as we saw with Target and Walmart having too much stuff like patio furniture that consumers weren't interested in buying any more after the initial pandemic boom. Keeping stores fully staffed in a tight labor market and ensuring just the right amount of price discounts are some of the other challenges that big-box operators like Walmart, Target and others face daily.
It all comes down to execution and management effectiveness.
With respect to the group's Q3 earnings releases, it has been a mixed show overall. In a backdrop of moderating and shifting consumer spending behavior, some retailers have been more successful than others. Walmart was better, Target was not. Macy's, Foot Locker and Lowe's executed really well, but others didn't.
With respect to the Retail sector 2022 Q3 earnings season scorecard, we now have results from 29 of the 34 retailers in the S&P 500 index.
Unlike the official S&P sector classifications that leaves retail sector players spread around different sectors, primarily Consumer Discretionary, Zacks' stand-along Retail sector classification that houses conventional retailers, digital players and restaurants allows for a more granular understanding of trends in the space.
Total Q3 earnings for these retailers are down -5.5% from the same period last year on +8.6% higher revenues, with 72.4% beating EPS estimates and 58.6% beating revenue estimates.
Retailers have been struggling to come out with positive surprises thus far, though it's a better showing relative to what we saw from the group 2022 Q2.
With respect to the earnings and revenue growth rates, Amazon's weak numbers play a significant role in the year-over-year growth rate for the sector (Amazon is part of the Zacks Retail sector, and not the Zacks Technology sector).
Q3 Earnings Season Scorecard
Including all of the results that came through Friday, November 18th, we now have Q3 results from 476 S&P 500 members that combined account for 95.2% of the index's total membership.
For the 476 index members that have reported results already, total earnings are up +1.8% from the same period last year on +11.8% higher revenues, with 69.1% beating EPS estimates and 68.3% beating revenue estimates.
The EPS and revenue beats percentages are below what we had seen from this same group of companies in recent quarters, but otherwise within the historical range by now.
Tracking Earnings Estimate Revisions
The global economy is going through a synchronized slowdown, under the combined effects of rising interest rates in response to inflationary pressures, still-lingering logistical challenges that have started to ease up and China's continuing zero-Covid restrictions.
The orange bars in the chart above represent revenue growth. So, for 2022 Q3, revenues are on track to grow +11.6% from the same period last year even though earnings are only expected to be up only +1.6%. This seemingly elevated revenue growth is a direct function of pricing power, with companies able to pass on rising input costs to end consumers. We intuitively know that this can't go on forever and current projections for the next three quarters bears out this intuition.
The above chart shows that earnings in the current period (2022 Q4) are expected to be down -5.1% below the year-earlier level on +4.6% higher revenues.
Estimates have been steadily coming down, in line with the trend that we saw ahead of the start of the Q3 earnings season. Estimates for full-year 2023 have been coming down as well, with the negative revisions trend particularly notable on an ex-Energy basis.
Since mid-April, 2023 earnings estimates in the aggregate have come down by -8.6% for the S&P 500 index as a whole and -11.5% on an ex-Energy basis.
The cuts to estimates have been particularly notable for the Tech (down -18.9% since mid-April), Construction (-25.1%), Retail (-18.6%), Industrial Products (-14.3%), Consumer Discretionary (-19.3%) and Aerospace (-13.4%). Overall, estimates have been cut for 13 of the 16 Zacks sectors.
There are some in the market who think that 2023 earnings should be below the 2022 level instead of the current expected +2.8% growth simply because the U.S. economy is expected to go through a moderate recession.
I am not suggesting that 2023 earnings can't be below the 2022 level; they can be, and based on the current revisions trend, are likely headed there. But it is wrong to expect moderate declines in 'real' GDP to automatically result in 'nominal' or non-inflation adjusted corporate earnings to also decline. Corporate revenues and earnings are 'nominal' values and will reflect the effects of inflation. Inflation is expected to come down in 2023, but nevertheless remain positive.
For a detailed look at the overall earnings picture, including expectations for the coming periods, please check out our weekly Earnings Trends report >>>> Evaluating Further Downside Risks to Earnings Estimates
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Our 5 best-performing strategies have blown away the S&P's impressive +28.8% gain in 2021. Amazingly, they soared +40.3%, +48.2%, +67.6%, +94.4%, and +95.3%. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
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Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.