Retail Sales Are Out, Time For Investors To Go Shopping? Macy’s, Inc. (M)

Macy’s posted 11.7% January sales growth year over year, almost double expectations, compared to 13.3% from Kohl’s–but Macy’s is more likely to be able to continue this impressive growth, whereas Kohl’s still faces headwinds related to a turnaround of its business. The January sales growth came in as follows:

Source: Washington Post

The International Council of Shopping Centers reported that total retail sales were up 4.5% in January on a year over year basis. These positive sales come on the back of rising employment and loosening consumer spending.

For Macy’s latest quarter, the retailer managed to post its eleventh straight quarter of sequential earnings growth. Some investors may well be spooked, assuming Macy’s might struggle to keep up its outperformance despite a poor economic backdrop. Even so, following the news of strong January retail sales, Macy’s upped its next quarter earnings guidance. The retailer now expects earnings of $1.94 to $1.99 a share for the fourth quarter.

Kohl’s saw December comp store sales up year over year, but remained below company expectations. A big hindrance of Kohl’s is its non-existent international presence, leading to inherent overexposure to the U.S. market. The discounted pricing by Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS) has not allowed it to overcome the tough economic times (see which hedge funds love Kohl’s).

Other major high-end retailer Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) came in a close third behind Macy’s on January sales growth. Nordstrom posted solid third quarterly results, showing EPS of $0.71 compared to $0.59 for the same quarter last year. The growth for Nordstrom has been due to resilience in spending by its consumer base.

Limited Brands, Inc. (NYSE:LTD) and The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) are two other retailers, coming in fourth and fifth for January sales growth, respectively. Limited’s same store sales in December were up 3%, which fell short of 5% expectations. Its Bath & Body Works brand saw the best same store sales growth of 7% and Victoria’s Secret was flat. Gap continues to work on its turnaround, seeing weak traffic at Gap and Banana Republic specialty stores over the holiday season.