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Are Analysts Optimistic About Retail Earnings Heading Into Black Friday?

Earnings

By John Butters  |  November 24, 2017

With “Black Friday” today, the performance of retailers will be a focus for the markets. Since September 30, the S&P 500 Retailing industry group has recorded a 7.9% increase in price (to 1643.40 from 1523.19). As of today, which retailers in the S&P 500 are projected to see the highest and lowest year-over-year earnings growth for the fourth quarter? Which retailers in the index have seen the largest upward and downward revisions to earnings estimates for Q4 over the past two months?

In terms of year-over-year earnings growth, nine of the 13 retail sub-industries in the S&P 500 are predicted to report growth in earnings for the fourth quarter, led by the Food Distributors (18.9%) and Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (16.7%) sub-industries. On the other hand, four of the 13 retail sub-industries in the S&P 500 are predicted to report a decline in earnings, led by the General Merchandise Stores (-3.6%) and Automotive Retail (-3.3%) sub-industries.

In terms of year-over-year earnings growth, nine of the thirteen retail sub-industries in the S&P 500 are predicted to report growth in earnings for the fourth quarter

For upward revisions to earnings estimates, six sub-industries have recorded an increase in expected earnings growth since the start of the quarter, led by the Department Stores (to 8.7% from 7.3%) and Hypermarkets & Super Centers (to 2.3% from 1.1%) sub-industries. In the Department Stores sub-industry, Macy’s (to $2.48 from $2.40) has recorded the largest increase in the mean EPS estimate for Q4 during this period. In the Hypermarkets & Super Centers sub-industry, Wal-Mart Stores (to $1.35 from $1.33) has seen the largest increase in the mean EPS estimate for Q4 over this period.

Looking at downward revisions to earnings estimates, seven sub-industries have recorded a decrease in expected earnings growth since September 30, led by the Specialty Stores (to -1.1% from 3.6%), Automotive Retail (to -3.3% from -1.6%) and Distributors (to 4.6% from 6.3%) sub-industries. In the Specialty Stores sub-industry, Signet Jewelers (to $4.00 from $4.53) has witnessed the largest decrease in the mean EPS estimate for Q4 during this period. In the Automotive Retail sub-industry, Advance Auto Parts (to $0.62 from $0.75) has recorded the largest decline in the mean EPS estimate for Q4 since September 30. In the Distributors sub-industry, Genuine Parts Company (to $1.03 from $1.07) has recorded the largest decrease in the mean EPS estimates for Q4 over the past two months.

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John Butters

Vice President, Senior Earnings Analyst

Mr. John Butters is Vice President and Senior Earnings Analyst at FactSet. His weekly research report, “Earnings Insight,” provides analysis and commentary on trends in corporate earnings data for the S&P 500 including revisions to estimates, year-over-year growth, performance relative to expectations, and valuations. He is a widely used source for the media and has appeared on CNBC, Fox Business News, and the Business News Network. In addition, he has been cited by numerous print and online publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The New York Times, MarketWatch, and Yahoo! Finance. Mr. Butters has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to FactSet in January 2011, he worked for more than 10 years at Thomson Reuters (Thomson Financial), most recently as Director of U.S. Earnings Research (2007-2010).

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