Best Buy (BBY) captures one third of U.S. consumer electronics sales, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required). That's the good news.

But now Best Buy is losing market share. You are probably wondering why this has happened. After all since Circuit City evaporated into bankruptcy, you would think that Best Buy would be king of the hill. Not so. Other trends are developing that are eroding Best Buy's territory. Here are a few them:

Continue reading Best Buy Faces a Bleak Future

Best Buy Faces a Bleak Future originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So, the unemployment rate sank below 9% in February, but investors didn't seem to be impressed by that. The Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 all fell on Friday over concerns about how the ongoing unrest in the Middle East might affect energy prices, and thus the economic recovery.

Will this coming week's economic calendar offer anything likely to bring excitement to the markets? Here's what's on tap:

• Monday: Consumer credit numbers for January
• Tuesday: Weekly chain store sales, TIPP Economic Optimism Index

Continue reading Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings

Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Holiday Sales Falling Short of Expectations

Holiday Sales Falling Short of Expectations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although the U.S. economy has added jobs in recent months, the unemployment rate remains uncomfortably high at 9.8%. The rate for December is due out on Friday and is expected to drop to 9.7%. However, no one seems to expect significant improvement until well into the new year.

Other economic data on this week's schedule include:

• Monday: ISM Manufacturing Index, construction spending and auto sales data

Continue reading Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail and Auto Sales

Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail and Auto Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

FedEx Corp. (FDX), the world's leading package delivery service and an ostensible bellwether of the U.S. economy, will dance its way onto the earnings stage this week. Also, with the holiday shopping season well underway, Best Buy Co. (BBY) and Discover Financial Services (DFS) are scheduled to offer up their most recent quarterly results.

Here's a closer look at what the analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are expecting from these three, plus a peek at the week's economic calendar.

Continue reading Week in Preview: FedEx, Best Buy, Discover to Deliver Earnings

Week in Preview: FedEx, Best Buy, Discover to Deliver Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Black Friday has come and gone and the holiday shopping season is off and running. In addition to keeping on eye on how retailers are doing, there will be plenty of other economic data for analysts and investors to peruse on this week.

• Monday: Chicago Fed's Midwest Manufacturing Index
• Tuesday: Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, Chicago Purchasing Managers Index, S&P/Case-Schiller Home Price Index for Q3, Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index

Continue reading Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Fed's Beige Book, Canadian Banks

Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Fed's Beige Book, Canadian Banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It seems that retailers are ready to give up on pushing the practical gifts this holiday season in hopes that weary retailers are ready to unload some cash on higher-priced items. Retailers are hoping that socks and pajamas aren't on the list but large-screen LCD TVs and other fancier gifts find their way under the tree. The hope is that shoppers will buy into mainstream optimism.

A year ago, discretionary spending (items like clothing and home furnishings) dropped to 61% of total dollars spent, hopes are that this spending will increase to 63% this year (according to estimates from Customer Growth Partners). Such an increase would equal the percentage from 2008. While two percentage points may seem small, it represents an increase of roughly $60 billion.

Continue reading Retailers to Push Luxury Items This Holiday Season

Retailers to Push Luxury Items This Holiday Season originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Closely watched retail sales were stronger-than-expected in October. The Commerce Department reported that sales were up 1.2% in October, nearly double economists' projection for a rise of 0.7%, according to Reuters.

Here is a breakdown by categories:

• Motor vehicles and parts led the way up with a strong 5%, versus 1.5% in September.
• Building materials and garden supplies rose 1.9%, versus 1.3% in September.

Continue reading Retail Sales Up 1.2% on Strong Demand for Autos

Retail Sales Up 1.2% on Strong Demand for Autos originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Retail Sales Were Up in September

Retail Sales Were Up in September originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Alcoa (AA), Marriott (MAR) and Yum! Brands (YUM) kick off the new earnings season this week. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for moderate year-over-year earnings and revenue growth in the third quarter from each of these dividend payers.

Note that Marriott and Yum! Brands have exceeded consensus estimates in recent quarters and have First Call consensus buy recommendations as well. They are also trading near their 52-week highs, while Alcoa shares are closer to the 52-week low despite a 22% rise in the past three months.

Continue reading Week in Preview: New Earnings Season, Employment Data and More

Week in Preview: New Earnings Season, Employment Data and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Excluding auto sales, which registered a sizable decline last month, retail sales increases 0.6%. Department stores, sporting good stores, and clothing stores experienced strong sales to lead this retail rush.

Analysts and investors are cheering this news, taking it as a sign that the economy is regaining some strength after the disappointing spring retail season.

Continue reading Retail Sales Increase During August

Retail Sales Increase During August originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading August Retail Data Shows Caution

August Retail Data Shows Caution originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Trendy retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) has announced that net sales during the four weeks ending July 31 increased 17% to $270.9 million. Same-store sales during the period increased 7%, with direct-to-consumer net merchandise sales increasing 51% to $23.6 million.

Net sales for the fiscal quarter increased 17% compared to a year ago to $745.8 million, with store-sales up 5%. On a year-to-date basis, company sales increased to $1.434 billion from $1.239 billion a year ago, an increase of 16%. Same-store sales increased 3% on the same basis. Turning to the retailer's earnings report on August 17, the company expects to earn 15 cents per share.

Continue reading Same-Store Sales Increase at Abercrombie & Fitch

Same-Store Sales Increase at Abercrombie & Fitch originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Mattel's Second-Quarter Income Doubles

Mattel's Second-Quarter Income Doubles originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Retail Sales Slip During June

Retail Sales Slip During June originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sex(y) Sells: Abercrombie Bringing Back Controversial Catalog

Sex(y) Sells: Abercrombie Bringing Back Controversial Catalog originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Retail sales declined 1.2% in May to the lowest level in eight months. This surprised analysts, who had expected sales to remain in positive territory.

Here are some specifics:

• Auto sales dropped 1.7%, after a 0.6% increase in April.
• Sales at hardware stores plunged 9.3%. This may be because the first-time home buyer tax credit expired.
• Department store sales fell 1.8%. Large retainers were down 1.1%.
• Gasoline station sales were down 3.3%.

Continue reading Retail Sales Fall in May to Lowest Level in Eight Months

Retail Sales Fall in May to Lowest Level in Eight Months originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Federal Reserve's next Beige Book report is scheduled to be released this week. This report is a compilation of anecdotal information on current economic conditions from each of the 12 Federal Reserve Bank districts, and it is released eight times a year. The data comes from interviews with business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources. The June report is expected to show strengthening signs of expansion, though results could be mixed across the 12 districts.

Economic data due out this week include:

Continue reading The Week in Preview: Beige Book, Federal Budget, Retail Sales

The Week in Preview: Beige Book, Federal Budget, Retail Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Overall April retail sales numbers were better than expected, and last week's quarterly results from Kohl's (KSS), Macy's (M), Nordstrom (JWN) and Urban Outfitters (URBN) were strong. This week, the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) is scheduled to report earnings, along with big-box store operators Target Corp. (TGT) and Home Depot Inc. (HD). Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are expecting strong results from these mega retailers as well, and from many others reporting this week.

Unlike the other companies featured in this post, Walmart isn't expected to post double-digit earnings growth, but strong earnings growth nonetheless. The empire that founder Sam Walton built announced a collaboration with Procter & Gamble (PG), acquired a digital entertainment provider, and increased its annual dividend during its first quarter. Earnings for that period are expected to total $0.85 per share, a increase of 9.4% from the same period of the previous year. Revenue for the three months that ended in April is expected to have risen 4.5% in the past year to $98.5 billion. And analysts so far expect to see sequential and year-over-year earnings and revenue growth in the second quarter. Walmart's per-share earnings met or beat consensus estimates in the past five quarters, beating by four cents per share in the fourth quarter.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: Expectations for Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Hewlett-Packard

The Week in Preview: Expectations for Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Hewlett-Packard originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 16 May 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Three Retail ETFs Beating the Market Four Times Over

Three Retail ETFs Beating the Market Four Times Over originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 May 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.