The CEO of luxury furniture retailer RH turned to expletives again on an earnings call, telling analysts the industry needs to offer discounts amid a weak housing market or “f—-ing go bankrupt” https://t.co/HwQDQC2dyd ...

Core Insights - The Lovesac Company reported a second-quarter loss of $0.45 per share, which was better than the anticipated loss of $0.71 per share, while quarterly sales increased by 2.5% year-over-year to $160.53 million, slightly exceeding the forecast of $160.23 million [1][3] Financial Performance - Gross profit for the second quarter decreased by 1.9% year-over-year to $90.6 million, with gross margin declining by 260 basis points to 56.4% [3][4] - Adjusted EBITDA fell by 44.1% to $837,000, and the company reported an operating loss of $8.8 million, slightly higher than the $8.4 million loss from the previous year [4] - The cash and equivalents balance as of August 3 was $34.2 million, down from $72.1 million in the same period last year, while total merchandise inventory at the end of the quarter was $124.0 million [4] Guidance and Outlook - Lovesac revised its fiscal 2026 GAAP EPS guidance to a range of $0.52-$1.05, down from $0.80-$1.36, and below the consensus estimate of $1.04 [5] - The company narrowed its fiscal 2026 sales forecast to $710 million-$740 million, compared to the previous range of $700 million-$750 million and an estimate of $726 million [5] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Lovesac shares fell by 14.89% to $17.66 in premarket trading [5]

Earnings Reports - Kroger Co. is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.99 per share on revenue of $34.10 billion [2] - Aviat Networks Inc. reported quarterly earnings of $0.83 per share, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $0.47 per share, with quarterly sales of $115.340 million, surpassing the estimate of $114.667 million [2] - RH is anticipated to post quarterly earnings of $3.20 per share on revenue of $904.64 million [2] - Oxford Industries Inc. reported quarterly earnings of $1.26 per share, beating the estimate of $1.18, but quarterly revenue of $403.14 million fell short of the consensus estimate of $410.850 million [2] - Adobe Inc. is expected to report quarterly earnings of $5.18 per share on revenue of $5.91 billion [2] Stock Performance - Kroger shares increased by 0.7% to $67.51 in after-hours trading [2] - Aviat Networks shares rose by 4.7% to $23.75 in after-hours trading [2] - RH shares gained 0.4% to $229.90 in after-hours trading [2] - Oxford Industries shares jumped 16.7% to $47.16 in after-hours trading [2] - Adobe shares increased by 0.4% to $351.45 in after-hours trading [2]

Core Insights - The U.S. government is investigating furniture imports, which may lead to new tariffs, with the investigation expected to conclude in 50 days [2][3] - Approximately 70% of household furniture sold in the U.S. in 2020 was imported, with significant increases in imports from Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia [5] - The stock prices of companies like Restoration Hardware and Wayfair have been negatively impacted by the tariff news, although Wayfair claims tariffs have not significantly affected its pricing strategy [4] Industry Impact - The investigation into furniture imports is part of a broader examination of timber and lumber-related products [2] - Furniture imports from Southeast Asian countries rose to $15.4 billion in 2020, up from $4.6 billion in 2014, while imports from China have decreased [5] - Small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are facing challenges due to tariffs, but recent data indicates that SMB confidence remains high, with 82% expecting to survive at least two more years [6][7][8]

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The news team covers medium and small-cap markets, as well as blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive's content includes insights across various sectors such as biotech, pharma, mining, natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging technologies [3] Group 2 - Proactive is committed to adopting technology to enhance workflows and content production [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Core Insights - Quad/Graphics, Inc. has been selected as the agency of record by Scandinavian Designs to enhance its marketing strategy and execution [1][3] - The partnership aims to grow Scandinavian Designs' e-commerce presence and modernize the furniture shopping experience [2][4] Company Overview - Scandinavian Designs is a nationwide retailer specializing in modern home furnishings, with over 50 store locations across the U.S. [2][7] - Quad is a marketing experience company that integrates creative, production, and media solutions across various channels [8][10] Strategic Collaboration - The collaboration will involve Quad's creative agency, Betty, and media agency, Rise, to provide strategic direction and analytics services [4][5] - Quad will also revive Scandinavian Designs' catalog, which was previously discontinued, to enhance consumer engagement [5][6] Market Insights - Recent research indicates that 78% of Gen Z and Millennials prefer brands that enhance physical shopping with digital touchpoints, and 65% of shoppers across generations look forward to receiving catalogs [6]

Company Performance - Arhaus, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARHS) reported Q2 2025 results that appear strong on a GAAP basis, but underlying metrics indicate persistent challenges since 2023 [1] - The company is not experiencing growth, reflecting ongoing operational difficulties [1] Investment Perspective - The analysis emphasizes a long-only investment approach, focusing on operational aspects and long-term earnings potential rather than market-driven dynamics [1] - The majority of investment calls are expected to be holds, indicating a cautious stance towards new buys [1]

Market Overview - Pre-market futures are showing positive movement after a disappointing jobs report led to the firing of the Chief of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicating a labor market slowdown and potential interest rate reductions [1] - Bond yields have decreased, with the 10-year yield at 4.20% and the 2-year yield at 3.67%, both at multi-month lows, increasing the likelihood of a Fed funds rate cut at the next meeting [2] - The Dow is up +195 points, S&P 500 up +33, and Nasdaq up +188 points, while the small-cap Russell 2000 is up +13 [3] Earnings Reports - Wayfair reported a significant earnings surprise of +141.67%, with earnings of 87 cents per share compared to the Zacks consensus of 36 cents, and revenue of $3.27 billion, a +4.25% beat, leading to a +13% increase in shares [5] - Tyson Foods also exceeded earnings expectations with 91 cents per share against a consensus of 72 cents, resulting in a +26.39% surprise, and revenues of $13.88 billion, a +1.88% beat, with shares up +5% in pre-market [6] Economic Indicators - Factory Orders for June are expected to show a negative month-over-month change of -4.9%, following a previous high of +8.2%, indicating potential economic slowdown [7] - Palantir is set to report Q2 earnings, with expectations of +55.56% growth in earnings year-over-year and +38.37% in revenues, despite a recent decline in share price [8] Market Sentiment - August is historically a weaker trading month, but positive Q2 earnings reports from over 500 companies could lead to upward surprises if guidance is raised based on economic conditions [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Company reported Q2 2025 sales of $181 million, a 1.3% increase year-over-year, with comparable store sales down 2.3% [3][18] - Gross margin improved to 60.8% from 60.4%, reflecting product selection and merchandising mix [18] - Pre-tax profits decreased to $4.3 million, with an operating margin of 2.4%, down from $6.5 million and 3.6% in Q2 2024 [3][18] - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.16, compared to $0.27 in the same quarter last year [3][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total written sales increased by 0.4%, while design and special order business saw a mid-single-digit decline due to tariff impacts [4][9] - Average ticket size decreased slightly to just under $3,400, while designer average ticket grew approximately 5% to over $7,600 [4][9] - Upholstery and bedroom categories outperformed with low to mid-single-digit positive sales, while dining room and decor categories experienced high single-digit declines [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Traffic remained positive in the mid-single digits compared to the same period last year, with a notable increase during the Memorial Day event [4][6] - Organic traffic increased by 15.6% following the implementation of Adobe's Edge delivery service [7] - Web sales grew by 8.4% for the quarter, attributed to improved digital marketing strategies [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Company aims to return to positive same-store sales and is focused on enhancing customer experience through new point of purchase and tagging programs [10][12] - Plans to open five new stores annually, with two new stores in Houston and one relocation in Daytona Beach planned for 2025 [12][14] - Company is actively managing supply chain challenges and tariff uncertainties while maintaining gross margin guidance [11][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a struggling housing market with high interest rates and inflation concerns but highlighted consumer resilience [4][15] - Confidence in maintaining gross margin guidance despite potential tariff impacts, with proactive vendor communication [11][22] - Management expressed optimism about gradual improvement in sales trends and plans to invest more in marketing strategies [37][48] Other Important Information - Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased by 4.1% to $107.3 million, representing 59.3% of sales [19] - Company has no funded debt and ended the quarter with $107.4 million in cash and cash equivalents [20][21] - Anticipated capital expenditures for 2025 remain at $24 million, focusing on new store openings and IT investments [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you speak to the cadence of your written sales throughout the quarter and any notable regional differences? - Written business was down around 2% in April, up almost 1% in May, and up around 2.5% in June, with no significant regional differences noted [26] Question: Can you quantify the impact of suspending special orders from China on same-store business? - Management acknowledged the impact on design business but could not quantify the exact effect [27][28] Question: Have you taken any pricing actions regarding tariffs, and what are your expectations? - Pricing adjustments were made in May, and management is prepared to adjust pricing based on final tariff outcomes [29][30] Question: What marketing strategies do you believe will be most impactful in driving same-store sales? - New pricing strategy and successful marketing campaigns, including extended promotions, are expected to drive traffic and conversion rates [35][36] Question: How do you view the promotional environment across the industry? - Management feels confident in their promotional strategies and plans to increase marketing investments while maintaining brand integrity [40][42] Question: What is the outlook for store openings and the real estate environment? - Store openings have been pushed to 2026, but management remains optimistic about finding suitable locations and maintaining reasonable rents [49][51]

Core Insights - Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. reported its fiscal 2025 results, highlighting a strong performance despite economic challenges, with a focus on its vertically integrated business model and operational efficiency [2][3] Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2025, consolidated net sales were $160.4 million, down from $168.6 million in the prior year, reflecting a 4.9% decrease [6][23] - Gross margin for the fourth quarter was 59.9%, compared to 60.8% in the previous year, indicating a slight decline [6][23] - Adjusted operating income for the fourth quarter was $15.6 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 9.7%, down from 13.1% a year ago [6][29] - The company generated $24.8 million in operating cash flow during the fourth quarter, compared to $26.2 million in the prior year [6][10] Dividends and Shareholder Returns - The company paid a total of $10.0 million in cash dividends during the fourth quarter, with a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.39 per share and a special cash dividend of $0.25 per share approved for payment on August 28, 2025 [2][13] - Total cash dividends paid during fiscal 2025 amounted to $50.1 million, including a special cash dividend of $0.40 per share paid in August 2024 [11][13] Operational Highlights - The company has reduced its headcount by 5.7% year-over-year and 32.2% since 2019, reflecting a focus on operational efficiency [2][8] - Retail segment written orders increased by 1.6% in the fourth quarter, while wholesale segment written orders decreased by 6.8% [6][12] - The company opened four new design centers during fiscal 2025 and plans to open additional locations in fiscal 2026 [8][12] Recognition and Brand Strength - Ethan Allen was named America's 1 Premium Furniture Retailer by Newsweek for the third consecutive year, underscoring its commitment to quality and customer service [3][15] - The company celebrated its 93-year heritage and was recognized for its sustainable wood-sourcing policies [8][12]