“Costco’s Same-Store Sales +3% in Q1 2014”  “Comparable sales for the twelve-week period, excluding negative impacts from gasoline price deflation and foreign exchange, were 5%”  Read the Company Release

 

“Costco’s Q1 Earnings Call @ 8am PT this Morning”  Listen to the Webcast

 

“Costco Earnings Per Share of $.96 Misses Street Estimate by $.06” at Market Watch.  Read more

 

“Home Depot on Track to hit 2015 Goals…One Year Ahead of Schedule!”  “In June of 2012, the Company announced a long term operating margin target of 12 percent and a 24 percent return on invested capital target by the end of fiscal 2015. The Company anticipates reaching these targets at the end of fiscal 2014, one year earlier than planned.”  Read more

 

“Happening Today @ 9 am ET:  Home Depot’s 2013 Investor Conference”  Listen to Live Webcast

 

“Walmart Names Cheesewright New Int’l CEO; Could be Top Contender in McMillon Succession Plan” by Katie Little at CNBC.  “If Wal-Mart history repeats itself, (David) Cheesewright could be a top contender in the succession plan to succeed McMillon. Both McMillon and Duke were in charge of the company’s international segment before being picked to head (Walmart)…Joe Feldman, a senior retail analyst at Telsey Advisory Group, said the move puts Cheesewright in the running to eventually replace McMillon, along with Wal-Mart U.S. CEO Bill Simon, whom Feldman said was “near the top of the list.”  Read more

 

“Target’s PFresh:  Very Inconvenient” by Thomas Lee at Star-Tribune.  “It’s like Target is saying ‘we are going to call you on your bluff,’ Koo said. “You may have intended to buy food but you really want to buy clothes.”  Excluding SuperTargets, regular Target stores usually have only one entrance, lest you sneak in through a side door closer to PFresh.  Target’s strategy is clever but does not come without sacrifices.”  Read more

 

“Walmart’s Relentless Christmas Countdown Continues”  “On Friday, Dec. 13 at 8:00 a.m., the retailer will drop prices on popular toys, electronics, apparel, table games and other products…on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 8:00 a.m., Walmart’s largest shipment of the PlayStation® 4 will arrive at stores across the country…According to ShopperTrak’s predictions, four of the 10 busiest shopping days will occur between Dec. 20 and Dec. 24, with Super Saturday (Dec. 21) being the second most-popular shopping day after Black Friday.”  Read more

 

“Where Can Target Expand Now After Canada Disappointment?”  at Trefis.  “Although Target has not laid down any firm plans for global expansion apart from Canada, we believe it is only a matter of time before it decides to enter Brazil and Mexico. Their close proximity to the U.S. and strong retail markets make them the most lucrative options for the retailer.”  Read more

 

“Worker Wins 2-Minute All-You-Can Grab Shopping Spree at Costco;  Began Hitting the Gym in Nov. to Get Ready” by Rachel Feintzeig at WSJ. “On Thursday, Alan Comley will get the holiday gift he never knew he always wanted: two minutes at a Texas Costco…Mr. Comley has been training to ensure he is in peak physical condition for his Costco run, first by running drills around his apartment complex, practicing sprints and quick stops…he began hitting the gym, running 2 miles on the treadmill and doing bench presses and biceps curls with 40-pound dumbbells in each arm. He has tapped a friend, a 6’5″ former college basketball player, to help him grab the 80-inch plasma TV, laptop and sound system on his list.”  Read more

 

“Market Force Study:  Dick’s Sporting Goods #1 for Sports Apparel; Nordstrom #1 Fashion Retailer”  “Nordstrom is North America’s overall favorite fashion retailer for the second consecutive time, according to a new study of more than 6,800 consumers conducted by Market Force Information…Kohl’s is the most visited for casual clothing, business attire and children’s clothing, while Dick’s Sporting Goods won out for sports apparel.”  Read more / See the charts

 

“Office Depot picks Florida over Illinois for new headquarters; IL could lose 1,600 Jobs” at Chicago Tribune.  “The companies asked for tax breaks from both states. Illinois lawmakers adjourned last week before making a decision…It said its current Florida headquarters has “ample space to accommodate associates who will relocate from Illinois.” The company also didn’t provide a timeline for transition.”  Read more

 

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