06-24-2017, 01:29 PM
While the major averages posted lackluster results today, Cramer said there were big changes just under the surface, with Macy's (M) huge miss on earnings just the latest example of corporate turmoil. For many companies, the millennial generation might as well be aliens from a different planet. They're very different than their parents, and retailers especially, cannot adapt fast enough. Macy's execs admitted on their conference call that the chain continues to see shifting shopping trends that focus on value and experience, something Macy's struggles to offer. The company also admitted that America is "over-retailed" and it will take time for consolidation efforts to show results. These shifts should not come as a surprise to Mad Money viewers, as Cramer has chronicled the rise of the smart phone and how it turns brick-and-mortar stores into a negative. The stay-at-home economy continues to propel Amazon.com (AMZN) , Domino's Pizza (DPZ) and Electronic Arts (EA), but little else.
The Kids Are Taking Over the World: Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap (Thursday 5/11/17) - TheStreet
Walmart is now using store employees to deliver packages to customers' homes in the retailer's latest effort to undercut Amazon. Here's how it works: store employees who opt into the program are given packages at the end of their work shifts, with a list of delivery addresses.
Walmart store employees now deliver packages to customer homes - Business Insider
Walmart (WMT) is back on the top of its game in the U.S., at least judging by two important retail metrics. "The last 12 quarters of positive same-store sales and 10 quarters of positive traffic are evidence that the U.S. bricks and mortar [business] has made significant progress in recapturing the lost [market] share," wrote Barclays analyst Karen Short on Monday. "While there is always room for improvement in any retail format, it is very clear the turnaround has taken hold, and more importantly Walmart is now taking a leadership role with respect to leveraging both e-commerce and bricks and mortar." Short has a $90.00 price target on Walmart, estimating at least another 12% move in the stock. It's hard to argue with Short's call on the world's larges retailer. Being viewed as the lowest priced for food continues to work wonders for Walmart in its battle against rivals Target (TGT) and Amazon (AMZN) .
Right Now Walmart Is Such a Force Again That Amazon Should Be Very Worried - TheStreet
Walmart's same-store sales at its U.S. stores rose 1.4% in the first quarter, spurred by a 1.5% increase in customer traffic. Getting people to visit physical stores is challenging for retailers right now as they are buying more of their stuff online. But, Walmart's year plus effort to slash prices in food -- which obviously needs to get bought weekly -- has it in a rare position of seeing people head to stores for food and other merchandise. Walmart U.S. chief Greg Foran at Walmart's 2017 annual meeting. Sales of food at U.S. stores increased by a low-single digit percentage in the first quarter, Walmart said, also helped by initiatives to keep items in-stock. Conceding that it continues to have a "perception" problem, where consumers don't see it as the lowest priced in food and other household essentials, Target notched another challenging quarter of sales. Target's first quarter same-store sales fell 1.3% as both traffic and the average amount spent by shoppers each fell. Sales of groceries declined as Target only began late in the quarter to market its new lower priced food and other weekly needs. Meanwhile under the leadership of Marc Lore, who came with Walmart's August 2016 acquisition of his e-commerce company Jet.com, Walmart saw its online sales spike 63% in the first quarter. On Thursday, Walmart announced that it started testing a new delivery method that uses employees to deliver online purchases to customers' homes. The move expands on the retailer's Pickup Discount, announced in April, which offers customers the option to get a discount on certain items they buy online if they pick it up at a local store. Customers can still take advantage of Walmart's free two-day shipping, of course.
Right Now Walmart Is Such a Force Again That Amazon Should Be Very Worried - TheStreet