Core Viewpoint - Macy's Inc has shown resilience in its stock performance despite initial concerns over its holiday Q4 outlook, with adjusted earnings and revenue exceeding expectations [1] Financial Performance - The retailer reported adjusted third-quarter earnings of $0.09 per share on revenue of $4.71 million, both figures surprising to the upside [1] - Year-to-date, Macy's stock is up 33%, reaching a multi-year high of $23.14 recently [2] Market Sentiment - A bullish flag pattern is forming on the charts due to recent consolidation around the $23 mark [2] - Short interest has decreased by 19% in the latest reporting period, with 19.44 million shares sold short, representing 7.3% of the stock's available float [3] - The sentiment remains bearish, with nine out of twelve covering brokerages rating the stock as "hold" or worse, indicating potential for future upgrades [3] Options Activity - Options trading has seen increased activity, with 12,000 calls and 10,000 puts traded, which is four times the average intraday volume [4] - The December 20 put option is the most popular, with new positions being opened [4]

Core Insights - Macy's, Inc. reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 results with both top and bottom lines exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimates, despite a decrease in net sales and an increase in earnings compared to the previous year [1][3] - The company has raised its fiscal 2025 outlook, reflecting confidence in its strong balance sheet and diversified brand portfolio [2][12] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were reported at 9 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 13 cents, and increased from 4 cents in the year-ago quarter [3] - Net sales reached $4,713 million, exceeding the consensus estimate of $4,595 million, although this represented a 0.6% decline from the previous year [4] - Comparable sales increased by 2.5% on an owned basis and 3.2% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis [4][5] Brand Performance - Comparable sales for the Macy's brand rose 1.4% on an owned basis and 2% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis [6] - Bloomingdale's brand saw a significant increase in comps of 8.8% on an owned basis and 9% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of growth [6] - Bluemercury brand reported a 1.1% increase in comps on an owned basis, achieving its 19th consecutive quarter of growth [6] Margins and Expenses - Gross margin for the fiscal third quarter was 39.4%, beating the estimate of 39%, but down 20 basis points from the previous year due to tariff impacts [7] - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $2.02 billion, down 1.9% year over year, reflecting cost discipline and savings from closed stores [8][9] - Adjusted EBITDA was reported at $285 million, down 4.4% from $273 million in the year-ago quarter, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.8%, up 20 basis points year over year [9] Financial Snapshot - The company ended the fiscal third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $447 million, long-term debt of $2.43 billion, and shareholders' equity of $4.33 billion [10] - Merchandise inventories increased by 0.7% year over year, and net cash provided by operating activities was $247 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2025 [10] Share Repurchase and Asset Sales - In the third quarter, Macy's repurchased 2.8 million shares for $50 million, with $1.2 billion remaining under its $2 billion share repurchase authorization [11] - Asset sale gains were reported at $12 million, down from $66 million in the prior period, as the company continues to focus on closing underperforming stores [11] Fiscal 2025 Guidance - The company updated its annual outlook, raising net sales expectations to $21.48-$21.63 billion from $21.15-$21.45 billion [12][13] - Comparable owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace sales are now expected to be flat to up 0.5%, an improvement from the previous expectation of a decline [13] - Adjusted earnings per share are anticipated to be between $2.00 and $2.20, up from the prior range of $1.70-$2.05 [14]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding company or industry insights [1]

Core Viewpoint - Macy's reported better-than-expected third quarter results but provided a cautious outlook for the holiday quarter, anticipating a decline in net sales [1][2]. Financial Performance - In the third quarter, Macy's revenue was $4.7 billion, matching last year's figures and exceeding Wall Street's estimates of $4.6 billion [2]. - Adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter were $0.04, surpassing analysts' expectations of a $0.14 loss [2]. - Same-store sales increased by 2.5%, significantly higher than the expected 0.6% growth, marking the fastest growth in 13 quarters [3]. Future Outlook - For the fourth quarter, Macy's expects net sales to decline by 3%-5% year-over-year, projecting a range of $7.35 billion to $7.5 billion [2]. - The company raised its full-year same-store sales outlook to a range between unchanged and up 1%, an improvement from the previous forecast of a decline of up to 1.5% [6]. - Adjusted earnings per share for the full year are now expected to be between $2.00 and $2.20, up from the previous range of $1.70-$2.05 [7]. Strategic Initiatives - Macy's CEO Tony Spring emphasized the importance of cautious guidance to maintain credibility with investors, especially after three consecutive quarters of beating expectations [4][5]. - The company plans to close 150 stores over a three-year period, having already closed 64 stores last year [7]. - The luxury segment, particularly Bloomingdale's, is performing well, with an 8.8% increase in same-store sales, the highest growth in 13 quarters [7].

Core Insights - Macy's has raised its full-year sales guidance and reported its highest comparable sales growth in 13 quarters, indicating positive results from its turnaround plan [1][7] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company increased its sales guidance for the full year to a range of $21.48 billion to $21.63 billion, up from a previous range of $21.15 billion to $21.45 billion [7] - Adjusted per-share earnings are expected to be between $2.00 and $2.20, an increase from the prior estimate of $1.70 to $2.05 [7] - Macy's reported a 31% increase in stock price this year, despite a recent decline of 0.79% to $22.53 [4] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - The company has implemented a plan to close underperforming locations, enhance the shopping experience, simplify operations, and capture a larger share of the luxury market [2] - Macy's has introduced newer and more fashionable products from brands like Rodd & Gun, Reiss, and Prada Beauty, aiming to leverage new trends [4] - Investments in employee education have led to a record high in the third-quarter net promoter score, reflecting improved customer feedback [4] Group 3: Consumer Behavior - The company anticipates a "more choiceful" consumer during the fourth quarter, which includes the holiday season [3] - Despite expectations of choosiness among consumers, Macy's has observed continued spending from its predominantly middle to upper-income customer base [5] Group 4: Cost Management - To mitigate extra costs from tariffs, Macy's has been raising prices, collaborating with suppliers to share costs, and relocating production to countries with lower duties [6] - The impact of tariffs in the third quarter was less than expected, reducing the gross margin rate by 50 basis points [6]

We are joined by bloomberg host Romaine Bostick who spoke with the retailer's ceo tony spring. Earlier this morning for me. Thanks for joining us, danny.What did you do. Any shopping. I did, but not at Macy's.I got to be honest. Yeah, well, I mean, the interesting thing I mean, I did ask him a lot about what foot traffic was. Was there an actual increase.He did say he was happy with foot traffic, but he also seemed to imply here that a lot of the revenue gains that they've seen in this most recent quarter w ...

Core Insights - Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics, particularly the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, can identify opportunities with strong upside potential, especially for unprofitable or early-stage companies [1][2][3] Valuation Metrics - The P/S ratio compares a company's market capitalization to its revenues, providing a clearer picture of value when earnings are minimal or volatile [2][5] - A P/S ratio below 1 indicates a good bargain, as investors pay less than a dollar for each dollar of revenue generated [6] - The P/S ratio is often preferred over the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio due to the difficulty of manipulating sales figures compared to earnings [7] Investment Opportunities - Low P/S stocks can offer compelling opportunities, often trading below their intrinsic value, making them attractive for investors seeking upside potential [3][10] - Companies such as Hamilton Insurance Group, Macy's Inc., Cognizant Technology Solutions, PCB Bancorp, and PRA Group have low P/S ratios and potential for higher returns [4][10] Company Profiles - **Hamilton Insurance Group**: Operates in specialty insurance and reinsurance, benefiting from strong execution and a clear growth roadmap, with gross premiums written rising significantly [12][13] - **Macy's Inc.**: Undergoing a transformation with its Bold New Chapter program, focusing on digital initiatives and omnichannel retailing, currently holds a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 2 [14][15] - **Cognizant Technology Solutions**: A leading professional services company with strong growth in Health Sciences and Financial Services, bolstered by acquisitions and AI initiatives [16][17] - **PCB Bancorp**: Offers a range of banking products and services, strategically positioned for sustained growth, currently holds a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 2 [18][19] - **PRA Group**: Focuses on the purchase and management of non-performing loans, benefiting from strategic acquisitions and a positive purchasing environment, currently holds a Value Score of A and Zacks Rank 2 [20][21]

Macy's - Macy's reported its strongest sales growth in over three years, with adjusted EPS of 9 cents per share, surpassing expectations of a loss [1][2] - Revenue reached $4.7 billion, also better than expected, and the company has lifted its full-year sales and earnings outlook for the second consecutive quarter [2][3] - Full-year sales are now expected to be between $21.4 billion and $21.63 billion, but shares are declining due to caution around holiday spending as consumers are becoming more selective [3][4] - Bloomingdale's showed significant growth with a 9% increase in comparable sales, while Blue Mercury saw a 1.1% increase [4] CrowdStrike - CrowdStrike's adjusted EPS came in at 96 cents, slightly above the expected 94 cents, with revenue of $1.23 billion, also beating expectations [6][7] - The company provided an upbeat Q4 forecast, guiding for revenue between $1.29 billion and $1.3 billion, which is above Wall Street's expectations [8] - Annual recurring revenue rose 23% to nearly $4.92 billion, indicating strong subscription trends and demand for its AI-powered cybersecurity tools [9] Oaka - Oaka reported adjusted EPS of 82 cents, exceeding the expected 75 cents, with revenue of $742 million, also above the forecast of $730 million [11] - Total revenue grew by 12%, and subscription revenue increased by 11%, while free cash flow jumped to $211 million from $154 million a year ago [12] - The company withheld fiscal 2027 guidance, citing a need for conservatism, which negatively impacted investor sentiment [13]

Core Viewpoint - Macy's Inc reported stronger sales and profit but experienced a decline in stock price, indicating market skepticism despite positive financial results [1][9]. Financial Performance - Quarterly sales reached $4.713 billion, a decrease of 0.6% year over year, surpassing analyst expectations of $4.621 billion [1]. - Adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter were 9 cents [4]. - Gross margin rate was 39.4%, down 20 basis points, primarily due to a 50-basis-point tariff impact [4]. - Adjusted EBITDA totaled $285 million, representing 5.8% of total revenue [4]. Comparable Sales Growth - Comparable sales increased by 2.5% on an owned basis and 3.2% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis [2]. - Bloomingdale's saw an 8.8% increase in comparable sales on an owned basis, marking its strongest performance in over three years [3]. Shareholder Returns - The company returned approximately $99 million to shareholders through $49 million in dividends and $50 million in share repurchases [4]. - A regular quarterly dividend of 18.24 cents per share was declared, payable on January 2, 2026 [5]. Financial Outlook - Macy's raised its fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings outlook to $2.00–$2.20 per share, up from a previous range of $1.70–$2.05, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.96 [6]. - The fiscal 2025 sales forecast was lifted to $21.475 billion–$21.625 billion from $21.150 billion–$21.450 billion, compared to the analyst estimate of $21.501 billion [6]. Market Sentiment - The company expressed a cautious tone ahead of the holiday season, noting that customers are becoming more selective and that higher tariffs will impact earnings [8]. - Management is taking a "prudent view" of the upcoming quarter due to challenging year-over-year comparisons [8].

Group 1 - The "small non-farm" employment numbers for November unexpectedly recorded a negative value, leading to an 88.8% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in December [1] - The three major U.S. stock indices opened lower, with the Nasdaq down 0.42%, the S&P 500 down 0.19%, and the Dow Jones down 0.03% [1] Group 2 - Microsoft shares fell by 2.5% after the company unusually lowered its AI software sales forecast due to lukewarm responses from enterprise customers to new products [1] - Macy's stock dropped 4.7% despite exceeding Q3 earnings expectations, as the company provided a cautious outlook for the holiday quarter [1] - Marvell Technology's stock rose by 8.5% after reporting better-than-expected Q3 results and announcing the acquisition of chip startup Celestial AI [1] - Microchip Technology's stock increased by over 5% after raising its guidance for Q3 net sales and earnings per share, citing strong booking performance during the period [1]