Thursday Tipsheet: Most Admired: Costco #12, H.Depot #40 | Target & Lowe’s Call Highlights | Sam’s Quiet Test

  “Target’s 4Q profit falls 46% after breach, Canada expansion” by Jennifer Bjorhus at Star-Tribune.  “Bottom line, results and outlook were not good,” Binder said. “But expectations were worse.”  There was legitimate good news in Target’s earnings, Binder said: U.S. sales continue recovering from the hit of the breach, use of Target’s Redcard continues to […]

Wed. Tipsheet: Q4 Comp: Target -2.5%, Lowe’s +3.9% | H.Depot Call Highlights | Target Attacks P&G

  “Target Q4 Same-Store Sales Down 2.5% in U.S.”  “In fourth quarter 2013, sales decreased 6.6 percent to $20.9 billion from $22.4 billion last year, reflecting the impact of an additional accounting week in 20125 and a 2.5 percent decrease in comparable sales, partially offset by the contribution from new stores.”  Read the release   […]

Tuesday Tipsheet: H.Depot US Comps +4.9% | Wmart $1.1 Bil into Mex. | Kroger/Safeway @ 5%

  “Home Depot’s Q4 Same-Store Sales Up 4.9% in U.S.; Up 7.5% for Year (Strongest in 14 Years)”  “The Home Depot today reported that comparable store sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 increased 4.4 percent, and comp sales for U.S. stores were positive 4.9 percent.  Total sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal […]

Monday Tipsheet: Top 500 Brands | Top 10 Innovative Retailers | Top 23 New Products

  “Brandirectory:  The World’s 500 Most Valuable Brands (Walmart #9, Home Depot #25, Target #56…)”  See the Top 500 list   “Walmart and The Container Store Have Something Surprising In Common (But Walmart doesn’t Get the Love)” by Laura Heller at Forbes. “No one seemed to question The Container Store’s motives or accuse stores of […]

Friday Tipsheet: Wmart Call Highlights | Sam’s Struggles | Rona Likes Quebec

  “Walmart tamps down Dollar Store acquisition talk, says its smaller stores bring in 4-7 times the sales of a Dollar Store” by Shelly Banjo at WSJ via Yahoo.  “Many of the dollar stores aren’t equipped with gas stations, pharmacies or the ability to sell fresh and frozen food. “We would have to pay a […]

Thursday Tipsheet: Wmart: US Comps -.4%, More Express Stores | Family Dollar/Wmart Merger?

  “Breaking:  Walmart Q4 US Comp Sales Down .4%;  Accelerating Express Store Rollout”  “We’re also pleased with how well the 20 Express stores are doing, and we’re expanding our pilot beyond the initial three markets….We will now open between 270 and 300 small format units this year, which will nearly double our fleet and fuel […]