Key Takeaways Analysts estimate adjusted EPS of $1.48 vs. $1.69 in Q1 FY 2022. U.S. comparable sales (excluding fuel sales) are expected to rise YOY, but at less than half the pace of the same quarter a year ago. Revenue is expected to barely increase for the second straight quarter as the boost from the pandemic continues to wear off. Walmart Inc. ( WMT ), one of the world's biggest retailers, enjoyed unusually strong earnings and revenue growth during the past two years. The key driver was consumers who changed their buying patterns in several ways during the pandemic. Walmart's e-commerce sales soared as people sheltering at home boosted their shopping online. And consumers also spent more on manufactured goods as they spent less on dining out and traveling. But these pandemic-related forces are beginning to lose momentum. As a result, Walmart's growth has begun to slow sharply. Investors will be watching whether Walmart can reverse its slowdown in growth when … [Read more...] about Walmart Q1 FY2023 Earnings Report Preview
Tmus q2 2020 earnings
S&P 500 and Dow Jones suffer worst one-day loss since June 2020
- A + A (May 19): Wall Street ended sharply lower on Wednesday, with Target losing around a quarter of its stock market value and highlighting worries about the U.S. economy after the retailer became the latest victim of surging prices. It was the worst one-day loss for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average since June 2020. Target Corp's first-quarter profit fell by half and the company warned of a bigger margin hit on rising fuel and freight costs. Its shares fell about 25%, losing about $25 billion in market capitalization, in their worst session since the Black Monday crash on Oct. 19, 1987. The retailer's results come a day after rival Walmart Inc trimmed its profit forecast. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF dropped 8.3%. "We think the developing impact on retail spending as inflation outpaces wages for even longer than people might have expected is a principal factor in causing the market sell-off today," said Paul Christopher, head of global market … [Read more...] about S&P 500 and Dow Jones suffer worst one-day loss since June 2020
Disney (DIS) Theme Parks Rebound Strongly, Despite Political Turmoil
In its Q2 FY 2022 earnings report in mid-May, The Walt Disney Company ( DIS ) revealed that revenue for its Parks, Experiences and Products segment more than doubled year over year (YOY). The segment, which includes Disney's well-known theme parks as well as resorts, cruise ships, and other experiences, was hit heavily by pandemic-related shutdowns throughout 2020 and 2021. Now, the recent earnings release could signal that the company is not only recovering strongly from the early stages of the pandemic, but also that it is weathering political backlash over its ongoing clashes with Florida lawmakers. Key Takeaways In its Q2 FY 2022 earnings, Disney reported that the business segment including theme parks more than doubled revenue YOY. The revenue performance comes even as some of Disney's international parks remain shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while international guest attendance at domestic parks has been depressed. Disney's theme park success in … [Read more...] about Disney (DIS) Theme Parks Rebound Strongly, Despite Political Turmoil
Netflix Announces Massive Layoffs As Subscribers Bail
Netflix is set to lay off approximately 150 employees in an attempt to curb costs following slow revenue growth in the first quarter of 2022. The layoffs constitute approximately 2% of Netflix U.S.’s workforce and cut across all departments, according to Variety, citing an internal employee email. A company representative explained that the cross-department layoffs were not a result of employee performance, but rather an effort to reduce costs following slow growth in the first quarter. On top of the 150 full-time Netflix staff laid off today and 70 animation studio roles that were cut, 60-70 contractors working on Netflix’s social media & publishing channels were let go — incl from Strong Black Lead, Golden, Con Todo and Most. $NFLX https://t.co/0er7gfIytk — Elaine Low (@elainelow) May 18, 2022 “As we explained on earnings, our slowing revenue growth means we are also having to slow our cost growth as a company,” a Netflix spokesperson told The Daily Caller … [Read more...] about Netflix Announces Massive Layoffs As Subscribers Bail
The 50 Highest-Paid Athletes Made Nearly $3 Billion; Here’s A Breakdown Of The Numbers
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Faster, higher, stronger: It’s an attitude that pays off on the field as well as off it. The world’s 50 highest-paid athletes raked in $2.97 billion before taxes and agents’ fees over the 12 months ending May 1, smashing 2021’s record total of $2.76 billion. This year’s list features many more notable numbers, however. Here’s a breakdown. 3: The number of athletes who surpassed $100 million in total earnings over the last 12 months. LeBron James, with $121.2 million, reaches the milestone for the first time on the Forbes athletes list while Lionel Messi ($130 million) and Cristiano Ronaldo ($115 million) are each five-time members of the century club. Only seven other athletes have ever accomplished the feat: Roger Federer, Floyd Mayweather, Conor McGregor, Neymar, Manny Pacquiao, Dak Prescott and Tiger Woods. 6: The number of athletes in the top 50 who had never appeared on a Forbes athletes list: … [Read more...] about The 50 Highest-Paid Athletes Made Nearly $3 Billion; Here’s A Breakdown Of The Numbers
Russia–Ukraine Tensions Soar as Shelling, War Talk Increase; Investors Flee Stocks
U.S. equity markets are falling as tensions ratchet higher between Russia and Ukraine, with U.S. officials saying they expect a Russian attack on its neighbor shortly. Major indexes are heading for weekly declines and the Nasdaq is adding to its nearly 14% drop so far this year. Key Takeaways U.S. equity markets are falling as investors watch developments in the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Major indexes are heading for weekly declines and the Nasdaq is adding to its nearly 14% drop so far this year. Roku shares are plunging while FAAMG stocks, Tesla, and Intel all slide. Shares of all the FAAMG tech companies are lower. Tesla Inc. ( TSLA ) shares are declining 3%. Shares of semiconductor companies are dropping after Intel Corp. ( INTC ) warned of lower profit margins this year. Roku Inc. ( ROKU ) shares are plunging on its earnings report (more below). Shares of big industrial firms including Boeing Co. ( BA ), Honeywell International … [Read more...] about Russia–Ukraine Tensions Soar as Shelling, War Talk Increase; Investors Flee Stocks
CFPB Orders Debt-Relief Payment Processors to Pay Over $11 Total Million Penalty
On Wednesday, May 11, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog agency responsible for consumer protection in the financial services industry, finalized an enforcement action against debt-relief payment processors RAM Payment and Account Management Systems (AMS) as well as AMS’s co-founders, Gregory Winters and Stephen Chaya. The respondents have been accused of illegally collecting debt-relief fees, misleading borrowers about when said fees would be paid to debt-relief companies, sending illegal advance fees to debt-relief companies, and failing to return funds to consumers who cancelled their student loan debt-relief agreements. The CFPB has ordered RAM Payment, AMS, Winters, and Chaya to pay over $11 million in consumer redress and civil money penalties, in addition to banning AMS, Winters, and Chaya from the debt-relief payment processing and account maintenance industry. Key Takeaways The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has … [Read more...] about CFPB Orders Debt-Relief Payment Processors to Pay Over $11 Total Million Penalty
HSBC’s mass of Hong Kong retail investors warms to breakup
- A + A HONG KONG (May 18): Smarting from HSBC Holdings Plc’s move to scrap its dividend during the height of the pandemic, the bank’s largely silent mass of retail shareholders in Hong Kong is warming up to the idea of a breakup. Splitting up Europe’s biggest bank to separate out its Asian operations is being pushed by its largest investor, Ping An Insurance Group Co, based just across the border in Shenzhen. The call is winning support in Hong Kong’s retail base, which owns about a third of the bank, with some seeing it as a surefire way of preventing the steady stream of payouts from being cut off again. Their loyalty has been tested as numerous pivots in strategy fail to impress the market, leaving dividends at half of what they were in 2018 and the stock down more than 40%. The former British colony is the beating heart of the bank’s global operations, accounting for about 30% of the group’s 2021 adjusted profits. Yet decisions such as the halting of dividends … [Read more...] about HSBC’s mass of Hong Kong retail investors warms to breakup
A lone bear, black magic and a $235 billion stock market crash
What does it take to trigger a crash in the stock market? A once-in-a-century pandemic? The biggest war in Europe in 70 years? The US Federal Reserve instantaneously cutting off the supply of the opium of record liquidity and low interest rates? Multi-year high inflation? How about black magic? The Oxford Dictionary defines black magic as a type of magic that is believed to use the power of the devil in order to do evil. In a world where boring financial data, profit and loss statements, and complex macroeconomic events sway the everyday movement of stock prices and stock indices, one Rajkot-based stockbroker claimed last week that he spent more than Rs 8 crore to engineer a multi-day crash in the stock market with the help of esoteric black magic. Close “We are responsible to a great extent for today’s fall and the fall of the past few days in the market. You won’t believe it, but we have spent over Rs 8.5 crore today in kala jadu (black magic) to create … [Read more...] about A lone bear, black magic and a $235 billion stock market crash
NVIDIA (NVDA) Fined $5.5M for Failing to Disclose Crypto Mining Impact
Graphics chipmaker NVIDIA Corporation ( NVDA ) has agreed to pay $5.5 million to settle charges leveled by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it failed to adequately inform investors about the demand cryptocurrency miners had placed on its graphics cards. Crypto mining involves obtaining rewards earned in cryptocurrency for verifying transactions on distributed blockchain ledgers. Key Takeaways NVIDIA has agreed to pay $5.5 million for failing to adequately inform investors about the demand cryptocurrency miners had placed on its graphics cards. The SEC claimed NVIDIA failed to report that crypto mining had generated significant revenue growth in two consecutive quarters during its 2018 fiscal year. In March 2021, NVIDIA released a new series of semiconductors called Cryptocurrency Mining Processor (CMP), specifically designed for mining Ether. Demand for the company's CMP hardware has slumped in line with sharp falls in cryptocurrency prices. … [Read more...] about NVIDIA (NVDA) Fined $5.5M for Failing to Disclose Crypto Mining Impact