This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: U.K.-based B&M European Value Retail on Monday said its CFO is stepping down as the company revealed it did not correctly recognize about £7 million ($9.39 million) of overseas freight costs in its cost of goods sold, resulting in a “material” impact on its fiscal year 2026 outlook.  Mike Schmidt, the discount retailer’s finance chief since 2022, told the boar ...

B&M saw shares crash more than 20pc after Mike Schmidt’s announced his resignation - Britpix / Alamy Stock Photo The finance chief of B&M has quit after an accounting blunder triggered the discount retailer’s second profit warning in a month. Mike Schmidt, 45, is leaving the retailer following the company’s failure to include £7m worth of freight costs in its latest results – meaning B&M overstated its profits. The mistake led to the retailer releasing inflated profit forecasts earlier this month. As a ...

Shares in B&M fell more than 19% on Monday after the UK discount retailer admitted a £7 million accounting error that will hit its earnings and trigger a leadership change. The company said that overs... ...

Consumers are navigating a landscape of shifting retail dynamics as discount giants face mounting pressure to deliver consistent growth. At its Investor Day, Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR) indicated that comparable sales were tracking at 3.8% quarter-to-date, while traffic remained approximately flat, according to BofA Securities.DLTR is under selling pressure. Stay ahead of the curve here.BofA analyst Robert Ohmes maintained an Underperform rating and price target of $75.The Dollar Tree Thesis: The company ...

Core Insights - Dollar Tree, Inc. has reiterated its third-quarter and fiscal 2025 guidance while outlining growth initiatives following the sale of Family Dollar [1][5] - The company aims to enhance merchandising, increase customer engagement, and expand distribution capacity to support unit growth [1] Financial Projections - Management projects earnings per share (EPS) to compound at 12%–15% annually from fiscal 2026 to 2028, with a base growth target of 8%–10% [3] - For fiscal 2026, Dollar Tree expects EPS to increase at a high-teens percentage due to timing-related cost benefits [4] Recent Performance - For the third quarter of fiscal 2025, Dollar Tree reported a 3.8% increase in comparable same-store sales quarter-to-date [4] - The company has repurchased 2.8 million shares for $271 million, which has not yet been factored into the EPS outlook [4][5] Market Reaction - Following the announcements, Dollar Tree shares traded higher by 7.30% to $7.29 in premarket trading [5]

Core Viewpoint - The discount retailer has reaffirmed its guidance for the third quarter and the full year, aiming for earnings growth of up to 10% annually through 2028 [1] Summary by Categories - **Earnings Guidance** - The company is targeting earnings growth of up to 10% annually through 2028 [1] - **Quarterly and Annual Outlook** - The company has backed its guidance for the third quarter and the full year [1]

Core Viewpoint - Target is experiencing takeover rumors due to its significant stock decline of over 35% year-to-date, making it a potential candidate for a leveraged buyout by private equity firms [1][4]. Group 1: Takeover Potential - Analysts suggest that despite Target's large size, it remains a viable target for private equity acquisitions, which typically focus on mid-cap and small-cap companies [2]. - If a private equity firm were to acquire Target, it would set a record for the industry, with an estimated acquisition price likely exceeding $60 billion, factoring in the company's market cap of approximately $40 billion and additional liabilities [4][5]. - The current market conditions, including the substantial uninvested cash available to private equity firms, make a leveraged buyout of Target a plausible scenario [6]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - It is advised that investors should not solely rely on takeover speculation when considering Target as an investment; a buy-and-hold strategy may yield better long-term results as investor sentiment could eventually shift positively [3][7]. - The unpredictability of takeover events suggests that viewing Target as a long-term investment rather than a short-term speculative play is a more prudent approach [7][8].

Ross Stores Inc. announced plans to expand its footprint at a time when much of the retail industry is contracting in an effort to stay profitable.  The California-based bargain retail chain recently opened thirty-six Ross Dress for Less locations and four dd's Discounts stores across 17 states throughout September and October, completing the company's store growth plans for fiscal 2025. The company doesn't have plans to press pause on its expansion plans with plans to open 90 new locations throughout the r ...

Core Insights - Walmart's shares have risen nearly 5%, approaching all-time highs, following a partnership with Open AAI to enable shopping through Chat GPT with instant checkout [1][2] - The partnership is expected to enhance customer experience by allowing users to search for products and make purchases directly through Chat GPT [7] Company Performance - Walmart has outperformed its peers in the consumer staples sector, which is down approximately 3.8% this year [3] - Compared to other big box retailers, Walmart is leading, while competitors like Target have seen significant declines, with Target down 43% [4] - In the e-commerce space, Walmart is positioned as a typical player, while Alibaba stands out due to its AI chip developments [6] Technical Analysis - Walmart's stock has shown strong growth, with a notable ceiling around the $105 level, which has been tested multiple times [8] - The stock is currently above a supportive range of $99 to $100, indicating a positive trend [9][10] - Options activity for Walmart has been notably high, with 360,000 contracts traded and 74% being call options, indicating strong investor interest [12] Options Activity - A significant options trade was noted, involving 5,000 January 16th puts at an average debit of $191, suggesting a potential downside move of 11.5% to become profitable [14]

Core Viewpoint - Dollar Tree, Inc. is facing pressure due to tariffs, but there is optimism regarding its stock performance as it is seen as a value destination for lower-income consumers [1][2]. Group 1: Company Overview - Dollar Tree operates discount retail stores that offer everyday consumables, household items, and seasonal merchandise, including food, personal care goods, toys, home decor, and party supplies [2]. - The company has recently spun off its weaker Family Dollar business, which is viewed positively [2]. Group 2: Investment Perspective - Jim Cramer has identified Dollar Tree as a "buy," highlighting its potential to thrive in the current economic environment with a growth rate of 15% and a valuation of less than 15 times next year's earnings [2]. - Despite the positive outlook for Dollar Tree, there are suggestions that certain AI stocks may present greater upside potential and carry less downside risk [2].