Core Viewpoint - Dillard's (DDS) is positioned well to continue its trend of beating earnings estimates, making it a stock worth considering for investors [1]. Earnings Performance - Dillard's has a strong history of surpassing earnings estimates, averaging a 26.86% beat over the last two quarters [2]. - In the last reported quarter, Dillard's earned $10.39 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.1 per share by 14.18%. In the previous quarter, the company reported earnings of $13.48 per share against an expected $9.66, resulting in a surprise of 39.54% [3]. Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Estimates for Dillard's have been trending higher, supported by its history of earnings surprises. The stock has a positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), indicating a strong likelihood of another earnings beat [6]. - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [7]. - Dillard's currently has an Earnings ESP of +23.90%, reflecting recent bullish sentiment from analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects. This, combined with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggests a potential for another earnings beat [9].

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell even higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Company Overview: Dillard's (DDS) - Dillard's currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating a positive momentum outlook [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting strong potential for outperformance in the market [3] Performance Metrics - Over the past week, Dillard's shares increased by 8.1%, while the Zacks Retail - Regional Department Stores industry rose by 8.78% [5] - In a longer timeframe, Dillard's shares have risen by 34.31% over the past quarter and 19.02% over the last year, outperforming the S&P 500, which increased by 14.59% and 18.48% respectively [6] Trading Volume - Dillard's has an average 20-day trading volume of 112,884 shares, which is a useful indicator of market interest and momentum [7] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, one earnings estimate for Dillard's has increased, raising the consensus estimate from $29.84 to $30.47 [9] - For the next fiscal year, one estimate has also moved upwards, with no downward revisions noted [9] Conclusion - Considering the positive performance metrics and earnings outlook, Dillard's is positioned as a strong momentum pick with a Momentum Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [10][11]

Core Insights - Dillard's and Pandora celebrate the opening of the 100th Pandora location within Dillard's stores, marking a significant milestone in their partnership [1][3] - The collaboration began in fall 2024 with Pandora being introduced in over 15 Dillard's stores, quickly expanding to 99 locations due to positive customer response [3][4] - Dillard's aims to provide customers with premium products, aligning with Pandora's high-quality jewelry offerings [4] Company Overview - Dillard's operates 272 locations across 30 states, including 28 clearance centers, and focuses on delivering style, quality, and value through a curated assortment of fashion apparel and home collections [8] - Pandora is the world's largest jewelry brand, selling in over 100 countries through 6,800 points of sale, including more than 2,700 concept stores [6][7] - Pandora employs 37,000 people globally and is committed to sustainability, aiming to halve greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2030 [7]

Core Insights - Dillard's and Pandora celebrate the opening of the 100th Pandora location at Dillard's new store in Battlefield Mall, Springfield, Missouri [3][4] - The collaboration began in fall 2024 with Pandora introduced in over 15 Dillard's stores, leading to rapid expansion due to positive customer response [4][5] - Dillard's operates 272 locations across 30 states and focuses on delivering premium fashion apparel, beauty, and home collections [13] Company Overview - Dillard's, Inc. is one of the largest fashion retailers in the U.S., founded in 1938, and operates both physical stores and an online platform [13] - Pandora is the world's largest jewelry brand, known for accessible luxury jewelry made from high-quality materials, with a commitment to sustainability [11][12] - Pandora generated revenue of DKK 31.7 billion (EUR 4.2 billion) in 2024 and employs 37,000 people globally [12]

Group 1: Price Trends and Inflation - The implementation of new tariffs by the Trump administration is leading to noticeable price increases in various retail categories, particularly in footwear, apparel, and bags, with a trend of "tagged inflation" emerging [1][2] - DataWeave's analysis shows that footwear prices have risen by approximately 4%, with specific increases of 4.2% at Macy's, 3.1% at Nordstrom, and 2% at Dillard's [1] - Apparel prices have seen more moderate increases, with Dillard's at 2%, Macy's at 1.9%, and Nordstrom at 1.8% [1] Group 2: Supply Chain and Tariff Impact - The price increase is closely linked to the type of product and supply chain structure, with footwear heavily reliant on Chinese manufacturing, making it sensitive to tariff changes [2] - A survey by the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) indicates that over half of the respondents expect retail prices to rise by 6% to 10% due to increased tariffs [2] - The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) has warned that new tariffs on back-to-school items could lead to price increases of 10% to 30% [2] Group 3: Trade Agreements and Future Implications - The recent trade agreement with Vietnam, imposing a 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods and up to 40% on "transshipped" products, poses a significant challenge for brands like Nike, Lululemon, and H&M that rely on Vietnamese manufacturing [3] - Vietnam is projected to surpass China as the largest supplier of footwear to the U.S. by 2025, with 274 million pairs of shoes imported in 2024, accounting for over half of the total sneaker imports [3] - The overall import costs are expected to rise significantly due to the combination of existing tariffs and the new agreement [3] Group 4: Consumer Behavior and Market Response - Retailers are beginning to pass on the price increases to consumers, with the National Retail Federation noting that the impact of tariffs is becoming evident on retail shelves [4] - The former CEO of Walmart highlighted that consumer choices will ultimately determine whether inflation trends will solidify, as consumers may opt for non-tariffed alternatives if prices rise [4] - Investment analysts are observing that core import prices have already increased, indicating that inflationary pressures are beginning to transmit through the supply chain [4]

Company Overview - Dillard's (DDS) shares increased by 7.8% to $450.49 in the last trading session, with a higher-than-average trading volume, compared to a 6.7% gain over the past four weeks [1] - The company is focusing on growth opportunities in both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce, enhancing its customer base and performance [2] Financial Performance - Dillard's is expected to report quarterly earnings of $3.47 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 24.4%, while revenues are projected to be $1.51 billion, an increase of 1.2% from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate for Dillard's has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without trends in earnings estimate revisions [4] Shareholder Returns - The company is committed to rewarding shareholders through share buybacks and dividend payouts, which is seen as a positive sign for future performance [2] Industry Context - Dillard's operates within the Zacks Retail - Regional Department Stores industry, where Macy's (M) also operates, having closed 5.7% higher at $12.33 in the last trading session [4] - Macy's has seen a significant change in its EPS estimate, dropping by 14.3% over the past month to $0.18, which is a 66% decrease from the previous year [5]

Financial Performance - Total retail sales declined by 2% and comparable store sales decreased by 1% compared to the prior year first quarter [58] - Net income for the three months ended May 3, 2025, was $163.8 million ($10.39 per share), down from $180.0 million ($11.09 per share) in the prior year [59] - Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased to 43.9% from 44.6% year-over-year [83] - Net sales from the retail operations segment decreased by $24.7 million, or approximately 2% [76] - The construction segment saw an increase in net sales of $4.5 million, or approximately 8% [79] - The number of sales transactions decreased by 3%, while the average dollars per sales transaction increased by 2% [77] Expenses and Cash Flow - Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $421.7 million (27.6% of sales) from $426.7 million (27.5% of sales) in the prior year [59] - Total Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (SG&A) decreased by $4.98 million to $421.69 million for the three months ended May 3, 2025, compared to $426.67 million for the same period in 2024, representing a 1.2% decrease [86] - SG&A as a percentage of net sales increased to 27.6% for the three months ended May 3, 2025, from 27.5% for the same period in 2024 [87] - Net cash provided by operating activities was $232.6 million, down from $244.4 million in the prior year [60] - Net cash flows from operations decreased by $11.75 million to $232.63 million for the three months ended May 3, 2025, compared to $244.38 million for the same period in 2024, primarily due to lower sales [92] - Capital expenditures were $16.9 million for the three months ended May 3, 2025, down from $35.2 million for the same period in 2024, primarily related to equipment purchases and store construction [97] Inventory and Store Operations - Total inventory increased by 6% as of May 3, 2025, compared to the previous year [85] - The company operated 272 stores, including 28 clearance centers, as of May 3, 2025 [61] Shareholder Actions - During the three months ended May 3, 2025, the Company repurchased 0.3 million shares of Class A Common Stock at an average price of $355.65 per share for a total of $98 million [102] Tax and Income - The estimated federal and state effective income tax rate for fiscal 2025 is expected to approximate 23% [91] - The Company recognized income of $5.9 million from the Citibank Alliance during the three months ended May 3, 2025, down from $11.6 million from the former Wells Fargo Alliance for the same period in 2024 [95] Strategic Focus and Market Conditions - The company is focusing on future income and cash flows from a new credit program with Citi [108] - There are plans for opening new stores while evaluating the closure of existing ones [108] - The company is managing costs amid inflation and trade restrictions, including tariffs [108] - Labor shortages and competition for talent are impacting the company's ability to meet labor needs [108] - Changes in consumer spending patterns and economic conditions are being closely monitored [108] - The company is assessing the impact of potential disruptions from global conflicts on consumer spending [108] - There have been no material changes in market risk disclosures since the last annual report [109]

Group 1 - The investment approach focuses on long-term investments while incorporating short-term shorts to uncover alpha opportunities [1] - The analysis is based on bottom-up evaluation, emphasizing the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of individual companies [1] - The goal is to identify companies with solid fundamentals, sustainable competitive advantages, and growth potential [1]

Core Viewpoint - Dillard's has filed a lawsuit against Wells Fargo, claiming breach of a co-branded credit card agreement, resulting in significant financial losses for Dillard's [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - Dillard's alleges that Wells Fargo's actions led to a loss of tens of millions of dollars due to the termination of their co-branded credit card relationship [1]. - The complaint states that Wells Fargo became an "unwilling and incapable partner" after regulatory issues arose, effectively abandoning the co-branded card market without notifying Dillard's [2]. Group 2: New Partnerships - In January 2024, Dillard's announced new credit card agreements with Citi and Mastercard, where Citi would acquire existing Dillard's credit card accounts and Mastercard would be the exclusive payment network for Dillard's co-branded cards [3]. - Dillard's President emphasized the importance of providing premium credit services to customers and expressed confidence in the new partnerships [4]. Group 3: Wells Fargo's Regulatory Challenges - Wells Fargo has faced ongoing regulatory issues since the "fake accounts" scandal in 2016, including an asset cap imposed by the Federal Reserve in 2018 [4]. - In April, Wells Fargo reported that the CFPB terminated a consent order related to its compliance risk management program, indicating progress in regulatory compliance [5].

Core Insights - Dillard's Inc. reported mixed results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, with earnings per share exceeding estimates while net sales fell short of expectations [1][2] Financial Performance - Earnings per share (EPS) reached $10.39, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.10, but declined 6.3% from $11.09 in the same quarter last year [2] - Net sales amounted to $1.529 billion, a decrease of 1.4% year over year, and below the consensus estimate of $1.540 billion [2] - Total retail sales, excluding CDI Contractors, decreased by 1.7% year over year to $1.468 billion, with comparable store sales (comps) dropping 1% [4] Margin Analysis - The consolidated gross margin contracted by 70 basis points to 43.9%, with retail gross margin at 45.5%, also reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 70 basis points [5] - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percentage of sales were 27.6%, up 10 basis points from the prior year, while dollar terms saw a 1.2% decline to $421.7 million [6] Cash Flow and Share Repurchase - Dillard's ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $900.5 million and long-term debt of $321.6 million, reporting $232.6 million in net cash from operating activities [8] - The company repurchased 276,000 shares for $98 million, with an average price of $355.65 per share, and has $175 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization [9] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2025, Dillard's expects depreciation and amortization expenses of $180 million and projects interest and debt income of $8 million [12]