The retail earnings period is about to kick off soon, and worries of a slowdown, broadly due to a more mindful and choiceful customer and the eventual impact on holiday forecasts, have set off alarm bells all over, including amongst investors, analysts and executives in the consumer and retail industry.
But a few companies are standing out to gain, while a few others struggle to bring back shoppers and are betting on discounts during the holiday shopping season to drive sales, with sacrificing margins set to be the most impactful story Wall Street will analyse.
Jefferies analyst Blake Anderson noted that the brokerage’s top pick for the season was Ralph Lauren, as demand in North America and Asia is said to drive quarterly sales and he expects a beat and raise with prudent second-half assumptions intact.
