Core Viewpoint - Consumers are facing economic challenges, impacting retail sales, but TJX Companies and Walmart have performed well, raising the question of which stock is a better long-term investment [1] TJX Companies - TJX operates brands like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, offering products at prices 20% to 60% lower than full-price retailers [3] - The company sources excess inventory from manufacturers at favorable prices, allowing it to offer lower prices to customers, especially during economic downturns [4] - TJX's fiscal third-quarter same-store sales grew by 5%, with positive performance across all divisions for the period ending November 1 [5] Walmart - Walmart has been successful since its inception, focusing on cost control to provide everyday low prices, making it difficult for customers to find lower prices elsewhere [6] - The company operates three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club, with Walmart U.S. generating the majority of revenue [7] - In the fiscal third quarter, Walmart U.S. same-store sales increased by 4.5%, driven by higher traffic contributing 1.8 percentage points [7] Investment Performance - Walmart shares returned 183% over the last five years, outperforming the S&P 500's 96.2% return [8] - Walmart's current P/E ratio is 44, significantly higher than its 10-year median of 29 and the S&P 500's 30 [9] - TJX has delivered a 145.7% return over the past 10 years, nearly 50 percentage points above the S&P 500, with a P/E ratio of 34, slightly above its 10-year median of 24 [10]

In the latest close session, Williams-Sonoma (WSM) was down 1.21% at $205.72. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.01%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 0.03%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 0.17%. Shares of the seller of cookware and home furnishings have appreciated by 14.8% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 4.91%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.78%.The upcoming earnings release of Williams-Sonoma wi ...

With a market cap of $25.1 billion, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSM) is an omni-channel specialty retailer offering a wide range of high-quality home products, including cookware, furniture, décor, lighting, and personalized gifts. It operates multiple well-known brands such as Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Rejuvenation through e-commerce platforms, catalogs, and retail stores. The San Francisco, California-based company is set to announce its Q4 2025 results soon. Ahead of this event, analysts ...

Group 1 - Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is highlighted for its variable tariff impact, with expectations of a modest year-over-year increase in operating margins despite tariffs [1] - The company reported a solid earnings beat, leading to an initial stock jump of over 4%, although it later finished in the red due to concerns over significant tariff impacts [2] - Williams-Sonoma owns brands such as Pottery Barn and West Elm, indicating a diversified portfolio within the home goods sector [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3, the company reported net revenue of $1.88 billion, achieving a positive comparable sales growth of 4% across all brands [25][30] - Operating margin expanded by 10 basis points to 17%, with earnings per share increasing by 5% year over year to $1.96 [6][29] - Gross margin improved to 46.1%, 70 basis points higher than the previous year, driven by higher merchandise margins and supply chain efficiencies [26][30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail channel experienced a strong performance with a positive 8.5% comparable sales growth in Q3, while e-commerce grew by 1.9% [8][26] - The B2B segment grew by 9% in Q3, indicating strength in both trade and contract sales [9][17] - Pottery Barn achieved a positive 1.3% comparable sales growth, while West Elm reported a positive 3.3% growth, and Williams-Sonoma brand saw a 7.3% increase [12][15][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company gained market share despite a decline in the overall industry, which faced challenges in Q3 [7][25] - The housing market remained weak, yet the company managed to improve furniture comps, indicating resilience in its product offerings [46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three key priorities: returning to growth, elevating customer service, and driving earnings [5][37] - Strategic collaborations and innovations in product offerings are aimed at attracting new customers and maintaining brand relevance [9][10] - The company is leveraging AI to enhance customer service and operational efficiency, with AI-powered chat experiences now live across all brands [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the outlook for Q4, reiterating full-year guidance for comparable brand revenue growth in the range of 2%-5% [7][32] - The company is actively mitigating tariff impacts through a six-point plan, which includes cost concessions from vendors and supply chain efficiencies [11][34] - Management acknowledged the ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and the lack of improvement in the housing market but remains optimistic about the company's performance [7][37] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest between $250 million and $275 million in capital expenditures for fiscal year 2025, focusing on e-commerce and supply chain efficiency [36] - A $1 billion share repurchase authorization was approved, bringing the total to approximately $1.6 billion, reflecting the company's commitment to returning cash to shareholders [36] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on price elasticity and its impact on comps - Management noted that pricing strategies vary by product category, emphasizing the importance of innovation and customer service in maintaining pricing power [40] Question: Impact of tariffs on future quarters - Management explained that tariffs are taking longer to affect margins due to delayed effective dates and aggressive inventory management, with a larger impact expected in Q4 [42][43] Question: Broader category performance and underlying improvements - Management highlighted the positive momentum in furniture sales despite a weak housing market, indicating strong brand performance and improved in-store experiences [45][46] Question: Guidance on holiday season performance - Management acknowledged the wide range of revenue guidance for Q4, attributing it to the long holiday season and the focus on reducing promotions compared to the previous year [50][51] Question: Concerns about maintaining operating margins amid tariffs - Management reiterated confidence in their six-point mitigation plan to offset tariff impacts, while acknowledging the uncertainty in the tariff landscape [53][57] Question: Future unit growth and store openings - Management indicated potential for new store growth, particularly in the West Elm brand, while maintaining a cautious approach to overall store count [58][59]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, the company reported a net revenue of $1.88 billion, achieving a positive comparable sales growth of 4% across all brands [22][29] - The operating margin expanded by 10 basis points to 17%, with earnings per share increasing by 5% year over year to $1.96 [5][22] - The gross margin improved to 46.1%, which is 70 basis points higher than the previous year, driven by higher merchandise margins and supply chain efficiencies [23][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The retail channel experienced a strong performance with an 8.5% comparable sales increase in Q3, while the e-commerce channel saw a 1.9% increase [22][23] - The B2B business grew by 9% in Q3, with notable strength in trade and contract segments [16] - Pottery Barn achieved a 1.3% comparable sales growth, while West Elm reported a 3.3% increase, and Williams-Sonoma brand saw a 7.3% growth in comparable sales [11][14][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company gained market share despite a decline in the overall industry, which faced challenges due to geopolitical uncertainties and a weak housing market [5][22] - The company noted that the housing market has not recovered, which is typically correlated with furniture sales, yet it managed to improve furniture comps [40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three key priorities: returning to growth, elevating customer service, and driving earnings [4][33] - Strategic collaborations and innovations in product offerings are aimed at attracting new customers and maintaining brand relevance [7][8] - The company is committed to enhancing its digital capabilities and leveraging AI to improve customer service and operational efficiency [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the outlook for Q4, reiterating guidance for full-year comparable brand revenue growth in the range of 2% to 5% [5][29] - The company is optimistic about its ability to navigate tariff challenges through a six-point mitigation plan [10][31] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining competitive pricing while managing costs effectively in a volatile tariff environment [31][32] Other Important Information - The company announced a $1 billion share repurchase authorization, bringing the total to approximately $1.6 billion [32] - The quarterly dividend was increased by 16% year over year to $0.66 per share, marking the 16th consecutive year of increased dividends [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on price elasticity and its impact on comps - Management noted that pricing strategies vary by product category and emphasized the importance of service and experience in driving customer decisions [35] Question: Impact of tariffs on future quarters - Management explained that tariffs are taking longer to impact margins due to delayed effective dates and aggressive inventory management [37][38] Question: Broader category performance from Q2 to Q3 - Management expressed satisfaction with the improvement across brands, particularly in West Elm, despite ongoing challenges in the housing market [39][40] Question: Guidance on Q4 revenue and comp trends - Management indicated that the holiday season is long and emphasized the focus on full-price selling and reduced promotions compared to the previous year [42] Question: Concerns about maintaining operating margins amid tariffs - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by tariffs but expressed confidence in their mitigation strategies and operational model [44][46] Question: Future unit growth and store count - Management indicated potential for new store growth, particularly in brands like West Elm and Rejuvenation, while also noting ongoing store repositioning efforts [46][48]

Core Viewpoint - Home Depot reported quarterly earnings of $3.74 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.81 per share, representing an earnings surprise of -1.84% [1] - The company posted revenues of $41.35 billion for the quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.88% and showing a year-over-year increase from $40.22 billion [2] Financial Performance - Home Depot's earnings of $3.74 per share compare to $3.78 per share a year ago, indicating a slight decline [1] - The company has surpassed consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters, while it has only exceeded EPS estimates once in the same period [2] Stock Performance - Home Depot shares have declined approximately 8% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 13.4% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Home Depot is 3 (Hold), suggesting that the stock is expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.89 on revenues of $37.99 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $14.96 on revenues of $164.12 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Home Depot was mixed ahead of the earnings release, indicating potential changes in expectations following the report [6] Industry Context - The Retail - Home Furnishings industry, to which Home Depot belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 40% of over 250 Zacks industries, which may impact stock performance [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, highlighting the importance of tracking these revisions [5]

分组1 - Ethan Allen reported quarterly earnings of $0.43 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.44 per share, and down from $0.58 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of -2.27% [1] - The company posted revenues of $146.98 million for the quarter ended September 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.09%, and down from $154.34 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Ethan Allen has surpassed consensus EPS estimates only once and has topped consensus revenue estimates just once [2] 分组2 - The stock has added about 0.3% since the beginning of the year, underperforming the S&P 500's gain of 17.2% [3] - The company's earnings outlook is crucial for investors, including current consensus earnings expectations for upcoming quarters and any recent changes to these expectations [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $0.52 on $155 million in revenues, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.90 on $620.7 million in revenues [7] 分组3 - The Zacks Industry Rank indicates that the Retail - Home Furnishings sector is currently in the bottom 24% of over 250 Zacks industries, which can materially impact stock performance [8] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, suggesting that tracking these revisions can be beneficial for investors [5] - The estimate revisions trend for Ethan Allen was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6]

Company Highlight - Le Creuset celebrates its 100th anniversary with a new cookware line [1] Media Coverage - Forbes Vetted features Le Creuset's 100th-anniversary cookware line [1]

Le Creuset Celebrates 100 Years With A Gorgeous New Cookware Linehttps://t.co/Po6TPt4AaP https://t.co/pyrAXHKVfA ...