Core Viewpoint - Macy's has reduced its annual profit forecast due to the impact of tariffs and a slowdown in consumer spending, indicating a cautious outlook for the retail sector [1][3][4] Financial Performance - The company now expects adjusted earnings per share of $1.60 to $2 for 2025, down from a previous forecast of $2.05 to $2.25, with 15 to 40 cents of the drop attributed to tariffs [1][3] - Macy's reaffirmed its annual sales forecast of $21 billion to $21.4 billion, a decline from last year's $22.29 billion [4] - For the three months ended May 3, adjusted earnings per share were reported at 16 cents, beating projections of 14 cents, while revenue was $4.6 billion, above expectations of $4.5 billion [4] Market Challenges - The company faces challenges from a slowdown in consumer spending and increased competition in promotions and discounts across the retail industry [3][8] - Comparable sales at Macy's locations fell 0.8% compared to the same period last year, while same-store sales at Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury increased by 3.8% and 1.5%, respectively [7][9] Strategic Initiatives - Macy's is undergoing a three-year turnaround plan, which includes closing 150 locations by early 2027 and enhancing its Bluemercury and Bloomingdale's businesses [5][6] - The company has invested in staffing, improved displays, and a new merchandise mix at 125 locations, which is about one-third of the stores it plans to keep open [6][11] Stock Performance - Macy's shares have decreased by approximately 27% so far this year [10][13]

Group 1 - Macy's, Inc. (NYSE: M) has experienced a significant decline in share price, losing 41% over the past year [1] - Investors are dissatisfied with the slow pace of the company's turnaround efforts, particularly after it rejected a buyout offer [1] - The company has a history of making contrarian bets based on macro views and stock-specific turnaround stories to achieve outsized returns [1]

Core Viewpoint - Macy's Inc. has revised its annual outlook due to initial and current tariffs, moderation in consumer discretionary spending, and increased competition, leading to a decrease in expected adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2025 [1] Financial Performance - The company reported net sales of $4.6 billion for Q1 2025, a decline of 5.1% year over year, but exceeded the consensus estimate of $4.50 billion [3] - Comparable sales decreased by 2.0% on an owned basis and 1.2% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis [3] - Adjusted earnings were reported at 16 cents per share, surpassing the consensus of 14 cents [4] - Core adjusted EBITDA was $308 million, down from $363 million a year ago [4] Future Guidance - For fiscal 2025, Macy's has lowered its adjusted earnings per share guidance from $2.05-$2.25 to $1.60-$2.00, compared to the consensus of $1.93 [1] - The company maintained its sales guidance for 2025 at $21 billion-$21.4 billion, slightly below the consensus of $21.31 billion [1] - For Q2 2025, Macy's forecasts sales between $4.65 billion and $4.75 billion and adjusted earnings of 15 to 20 cents per share, compared to the consensus of $4.76 billion and 34 cents, respectively [5] Margin and Sales Trends - The gross margin remained flat at 39.2%, with improved merchandise margin offset by higher delivery expenses as a percentage of net sales [4] - Comparable sales for the go-forward business were down 1.8% on an owned basis and 0.9% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis [4] - Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury reported positive sales growth, with Bloomingdale's net sales up 2.6% and Bluemercury's up 0.8% [6]

Market Overview - Stocks experienced a broad rally, with the S&P 500 gaining 2%, Nasdaq Composite and Russell 2000 up by 2.5%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 1.8% following trade and tariff developments [1] - The divergence between equities and bonds is notable, as stocks are approximately 3.5% off all-time highs while bond yields remain elevated, with 30-year bonds yielding just under 5% and 10-year bonds at 4.47% [3] Earnings Reports - Macy's reported better-than-expected earnings and sales for the first quarter but warned of tariff headwinds and cut its profit outlook [4] - Salesforce announced an $8 billion acquisition of Informatica, a strategic move into Artificial Intelligence (AI), ahead of its earnings report [4] - Nvidia's stock has been volatile, dropping nearly 50% from a January high of $153 to a low of $86 in April, but has since rebounded to $135 [5] Federal Reserve Insights - The upcoming release of the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes is anticipated, with investors keen to understand the Fed's stance on interest rates in light of current tariffs [6] - Fed Chairman Powell has shown reluctance to cut rates due to economic uncertainty, which is expected to be reflected in the minutes [6] Market Sentiment - The market is largely focused on Nvidia's earnings announcement, which is expected to influence not only the chip sector but the broader market as well [7] - Despite a rally in equities, the VIX remains above its historical average, indicating potential for continued volatility [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - First quarter net sales reached $4.6 billion, exceeding guidance of $4.4 billion to $4.5 billion [9][29] - Comparable owned plus licensed plus marketplace sales declined by 1.2%, better than the guidance of a decline of 4.5% to 2.5% [9][29] - Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.16, above the guidance range of $0.12 to $0.15, compared to $0.27 last year [11][33] - Gross margin was $1.8 billion or 39.2% of net sales, flat compared to the prior year [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Macy's net sales were down 6.5%, with comparable sales down 2.1% [30] - Bloomingdale's net sales increased by 2.6%, with comparable sales rising by 3.8% [31] - Blue Mercury net sales were up 0.8%, with comparable sales increasing by 1.5% [31] - Backstage outperformed the total Macy's fleet, while Marketplace achieved approximately 40% GMV growth [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International tourism negatively impacted comparable sales by about 30 basis points [10] - The go-forward business comps outperformed total, declining by 0.9% [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its "Bold New Chapter" strategy, which includes strengthening and reimagining Macy's, accelerating luxury, and modernizing operations [8][12] - The reimagined 125 locations outperformed the rest of the Macy's fleet, with a negative comp of 0.8% compared to a negative 2.1% for the total Macy's nameplate [12][30] - The company aims to diversify sourcing to mitigate tariff impacts, with 20% of products originating from China, down from over 50% pre-pandemic [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for the second quarter, noting stronger performance in March and April compared to February [45] - The company anticipates a more choiceful consumer and plans to navigate an uncertain promotional environment [22][35] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy inventory to sales ratio while being disciplined with inventory commitments [22][39] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest approximately $800 million in capital expenditures to support long-term growth [38] - SG&A expenses were relatively flat at $1.9 billion, with a percentage of total revenue at 39.9%, reflecting lower net sales [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sales guidance and consumer pressure - Management reaffirmed the annual sales guidance, noting stronger performance in March and April compared to February, and expressed cautious optimism for the rest of the year [44][45] Question: Impact of tariffs on pricing - Pricing is gradually being impacted by tariffs, with limited pricing seen in the second quarter, and management is negotiating with suppliers to manage costs [52][56] Question: Actions to capture market share - The company is focusing on product flow, improving marketing quality, and enhancing in-store experiences to capture market share [66] Question: Gross margin pressure in Q2 - Management indicated that gross margin pressure in Q2 will be influenced by markdowns and tariffs, with a focus on maintaining competitive pricing [68][69] Question: Inventory planning amid tariffs - The company plans to remain disciplined in inventory management, avoiding over-purchasing to mitigate tariff impacts [90] Question: Consumer health across income cohorts - Consumer health remains under pressure, but there is a positive response to newness and good value, particularly in categories like fine jewelry and big-ticket items [113][115]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - First quarter net sales reached $4.6 billion, exceeding guidance of $4.4 billion to $4.5 billion [9][29] - Comparable owned plus licensed plus marketplace sales declined by 1.2%, better than the guidance of a decline of 4.5% to 2.5% [9][29] - Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.16, above the guidance range of $0.12 to $0.15, compared to $0.27 last year [11][33] - Gross margin was $1.8 billion or 39.2% of net sales, flat compared to the prior year [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Macy's net sales were down 6.5%, with comparable sales down 2.1% [30] - Bloomingdale's net sales increased by 2.6%, with comparable sales rising by 3.8% [31] - Blue Mercury net sales were up 0.8%, with comparable sales increasing by 1.5% [31] - Backstage outperformed the total Macy's fleet, while Marketplace achieved approximately 40% GMV growth [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International tourism negatively impacted comparable sales by about 30 basis points [10] - The go-forward business comps outperformed total, declining by 0.9% [10] - The luxury segment showed resilience, with Bloomingdale's and Blue Mercury continuing their positive comp trends [14][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its "Bold New Chapter" strategy, emphasizing omni-channel performance and reimagining store locations [8][9] - The strategy includes strengthening Macy's, differentiating luxury offerings, and modernizing operations [15][16] - The company aims to leverage generative AI to modernize its supply chain and improve inventory allocation [9][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the second quarter, noting improved performance in May compared to earlier months [43][44] - The company is navigating uncertainties related to tariffs and consumer behavior, with a focus on maintaining flexibility in inventory commitments [22][23] - Management highlighted the importance of strategic pricing decisions to offset tariff impacts while remaining competitive [45][46] Other Important Information - The company closed 64 underperforming locations as part of its strategy [25] - The impact of tariffs is estimated to affect annual gross margin by roughly 20 to 40 basis points [20] - The company plans to invest in customer-facing initiatives funded by savings from closed locations [32][38] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sales guidance and consumer pressure - Management reaffirmed annual sales guidance, noting stronger performance in March and April compared to February, with cautious optimism for the rest of the year [43][44] Question: Strategic pricing decisions - Pricing adjustments are being made selectively, with a focus on maintaining value for customers while managing tariff impacts [45][46] Question: Impact of tariffs on pricing and consumer willingness - Pricing is gradually being integrated into the system, with limited increases observed in the second quarter [51][52] Question: Actions to capture market share - The company is enhancing product offerings, improving marketing quality, and enhancing in-store experiences to capture market share [65][66] Question: Reimagine 125 performance and future plans - Management remains optimistic about the Reimagine 125 initiative, with improvements noted in March and May [75][76] Question: SG&A guidance range - The SG&A guidance range provides flexibility to navigate various scenarios amid uncertainty [78][79] Question: Consumer health and category performance - Consumer health remains under pressure, but there is a positive response to newness and value [114][115]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - First quarter net sales reached $4.6 billion, exceeding guidance of $4.4 billion to $4.5 billion, with a decline of 5.1% year-over-year [7][27] - Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.16, above the guidance range of $0.12 to $0.15, compared to $0.27 last year [9][32] - Comparable sales (comps) declined 1.2%, better than the guidance of a decline of 4.5% to 2.5% [7][27] - Gross margin was $1.8 billion or 39.2% of net sales, flat compared to the prior year [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Macy's net sales were down 6.5% with comps down 2.1% [28] - Bloomingdale's net sales increased by 2.6% with comps rising 3.8% [30] - Blue Mercury's net sales were up 0.8% with comps increasing 1.5% [30] - Backstage outperformed full-line stores by several hundred basis points, while Marketplace achieved approximately 40% GMV growth [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International tourism negatively impacted comps by about 30 basis points [8] - Go forward business comps declined 0.9%, outperforming total comps [8] - The luxury segment showed resilience with Bloomingdale's and Blue Mercury continuing positive comp trends [12][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its "Bold New Chapter" strategy, emphasizing omni-channel performance and improving customer experience [6][10] - The strategy includes strengthening and reimagining Macy's, accelerating luxury offerings, and modernizing operations [10][14][15] - The company aims to diversify sourcing to mitigate tariff impacts, reducing reliance on China from over 50% pre-pandemic to 20% currently [16][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for the second quarter, noting improved performance in May compared to earlier months [43][44] - The company anticipates a more choiceful consumer and plans to navigate a competitive promotional landscape [21][34] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy inventory to sales ratio while being disciplined with inventory commitments [21][22] Other Important Information - The company closed 64 underperforming locations last year as part of its strategy [24] - Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $800 million, reflecting a commitment to long-term growth [37] - The company plans to return approximately $152 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [33] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sales guidance and consumer pressure - Management reaffirmed annual sales guidance, noting stronger performance in March and April compared to February, with cautious optimism for the rest of the year [43][44] Question: Strategic pricing decisions - Pricing adjustments are being made selectively, with a focus on maintaining value for consumers while navigating tariff impacts [45][46] Question: Impact of tariffs on pricing - Pricing is gradually being integrated into the system, with limited pricing seen in Q2, and negotiations with vendors are ongoing [50][51] Question: Actions to capture market share - The company is focusing on product diversity, improved marketing, and enhanced in-store experiences to capture market share [59][62] Question: Inventory planning amid tariffs - The company plans to remain disciplined with inventory flow and avoid over-purchasing to mitigate tariff impacts [86][87] Question: Consumer health across income cohorts - Consumer health remains under pressure, but discretionary spending is showing signs of improvement, particularly in categories like fine jewelry [108][110]

Financial Performance - Macy's Inc's net sales decreased by 5.1% to $4.6 billion compared to 1Q24[45, 46] - Comparable owned sales decreased by 2.0% versus 1Q24[47, 48] - Comparable owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace (O+L+M) sales decreased by 1.2% compared to 1Q24[49, 50] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.16[10, 11] - Gross margin was $1.804 billion, a decrease of 5.1%[57] - Inventory decreased by 0.5% to $4.663 billion[26, 57] Brand Performance - Macy's nameplate comparable O+L+M sales decreased by 2.1% versus 1Q24[15, 56] - Bloomingdale's comparable O+L+M sales increased by 3.8% compared to 1Q24[17, 56] - Bluemercury comparable owned sales increased by 1.5% versus 1Q24[23, 56] Future Outlook - FY25 net sales are projected to be between $21.0 billion and $21.4 billion[67] - FY25 comparable O+L+M sales are expected to decline by 2.0% to 0.5% compared to FY24[67] - 2Q25 net sales are estimated to be between $4.65 billion and $4.75 billion[70]

Group 1 - Macy's, Inc. is set to release its first-quarter earnings results on May 28, with analysts expecting earnings of 15 cents per share, a decrease from 27 cents per share in the same period last year [1] - The projected quarterly revenue for Macy's is $4.43 billion, down from $4.85 billion a year earlier [1] - The company's board declared a regular quarterly dividend of 18.24 cents per share on May 16 [1] Group 2 - Macy's shares increased by 4.1% to close at $12.04 on Tuesday [2] - Recent analyst ratings show a mix of downgrades and maintained ratings, with Morgan Stanley maintaining an Equal-Weight rating and lowering the price target from $14 to $12 [7] - Goldman Sachs downgraded Macy's from Buy to Neutral, cutting the price target from $17 to $12 [7]

Macy’s, Inc. M will release its first-quarter financial results before the opening bell on Wednesday, May 28.Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at 14 cents per share, down from 27 cents per share in the year-ago period and quarterly revenue of $4.5 billion, compared to $4.85 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro.On May 6, Morgan Stanley analyst Alex Straton maintained Macy’s with an Equal-Weight rating and lowered the price target from $14 to $12.With the recent b ...