Samir Shah

Sales dipped and profits were lower for Dillard’s, whose CEO expressed disappointment in the Little Rock-based retailer’s performance. Dillard’s reported Thursday (Aug. 15) revenue of $1.514 billion in the second quarter compared to $1.597 billion in last year’s second quarter. Analysts projected second-quarter revenue at $1.53 billion. #retailsales #earningsreport #departmentstores

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Wednesday, November 27: 🏈 Dick's raised its full-year guidance on Tuesday after what CEO Lauren Hobart called an excellent back-to-school shopping season and better-than-expected comparable sales for its third quarter. 👕 Abercrombie & Fitch Co. reported its sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit gains, positioning the retailer for a healthy holiday season ahead. Net sales rose 14 percent to $1.2 billion from $1.06 billion in the year-ago quarter. 📺 Best Buy has cut its full-year sales forecast and missed Wall Street’s quarterly revenue expectations, as early holiday shopping and a fresh batch of iPhones and AI-enabled laptops weren’t enough to drive higher sales. 🏬 Kohl's shares fell sharply on Tuesday after the company's earnings missed Wall Street estimates and following its announcement that CEO Tom Kingsbury will step down in January. 🧥 Burlington Stores, Inc. posted higher sales in the latest quarter and said the holiday selling season has started strong, as the off-price retailer’s offerings resonate with consumers looking for deals. 🛍️ Nordstrom on Tuesday offered up a slightly more optimistic full-year sales forecast, but said there was a noticeable decline in sales trends at the end of last month. 👚 Urban Outfitters has said it doesn’t have to discount as aggressively, amid holiday-season optimism. In the latest quarter, revenue rose 6.3% to $1.36 billion, while same-store sales rose 1.5%. 📈 Economists are concerned that President-elect Trump's proposed blanket tariffs on imports would drive up food prices. Tariffs would not only impact food imports but would also push up costs for fertilizer and farm equipment. 👖 Guess trimmed its guidance for the year after swinging to a loss in its fiscal third quarter, citing slowed traffic at its stores in Asia and North America. Shares fell 10%, to $15.52, in after-hours trading. 🥦 Workers at a Whole Foods Market store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have filed to hold a union election, the first union filing at the supermarket chain since Amazon acquired it in 2017. 🍊 Orange juice prices have surged close to record highs after Florida was hit by hurricanes. A future contract for a pound of frozen orange juice concentrate currently trades for $5.13, compared to $1.20 in 2021. 📦 More than one-in-10 Americans reported experiencing package theft in the past year. Among these victims, 28% encountered theft during Black Friday shopping and 11% on Cyber Monday. 👍🏼 Americans continue to feel more upbeat about the outlook for the economy. The latest reading from the Conference Board was 111.7 in November, above the 109.6 seen in October and the highest level in more than a year. 🥖 Subway announced Tuesday that its CEO, John Chidsey, will retire at the end of 2024. Executive Carrie Walsh will replace him as interim CEO. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Kmart used to be the Retail King! Sadly, the crown hasn’t been theirs for quite some time. K-mart's fall from grace can be linked to (but not limited to): ▶️A failure of to innovate in the face of competition from the likes of Wal-Mart (although this is not just restricted to K-mart only, department stores in general are laggards when it comes to innovation). ▶️Second, poor standards of product assortments and visual merchandising. ▶️Finally, a merger with Sears where the only value that K-mart brought to the table was its real estate footprint - there was no desire for those in charge to do well as a retail brand. Put these, and other factors, together and the end result is a once iconic brand goes and bites the dust. Is all hope lost for this retailer? Definitely. It's not worth the time, effort or expense to even try. The K-mart brand has been devalued because of years of leadership level ineptness and reviving it will have limited nostalgic benefit....if that. Thank you Nicole Kirichanskaya and Inside Retail US for including my POV on the story alongside my friend Neil Saunders of GlobalData Retail. #retailnews #retail #stores #innovation #merchandising #kmart #TRE

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Great Bloomberg op-ed on why investing in retail store leaders is good for business. I love Andrea’s callout that big investments can raise eyebrows with analysts – like increasing our average Walmart store manager salary to $128,000/year with a new bonus program that gives store managers the potential to earn up to 200% of their base salary. But in the long run, she shows how these types of investments support retention, career growth, better run stores, strong stock value, and our ability to attract a broader range of customers.   Here are a couple of studies that stood out to me in Andrea’s piece: 💠 A 2012 study by Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at the London Business School (then at Wharton School), found that firms on Fortune’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work for in America,” which have superior employee satisfaction scores on factors including pay and benefits, outperformed peers by 2.3-3.8% per year from 1984 through 2011. 💠 A follow-up study by Hamid Boustanifar, associate professor at the EDHEC Business School, and Young Dae Kang of the Bank of Korea found that the relationship still held: companies on the publication’s list earned an excess return of 2-2.7% per year through 2020, with particular outperformance during tough times.   At the end of the day, these investments also support the ability to build a pipeline of strong talent that stays and grows with a company. We want Walmart to be seen as an employer of choice and pay plays a big part in how we attract and retain talented people. #Compensation #TeamWalmart https://lnkd.in/gPVdAYG4

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If It Ain't Fixed Don't Broke It Macy's announced another round of 150 store closures 3 years after closing 100 stores The closures and layoffs are part of a streamlining effort to better align with the ever changing consumer and marketplace Best Buy is closing 15 stores in 2024 after closing 25 stores in 2023. Additionally, Geek Squad layoffs abound as Best Buy expands the use of A.I. New Gap CEO, Richard Dickson, has stated that marketing has lost sight of the differentiation between its Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta brands Three large struggling companies with similar turnaround strategies Cut costs, improve inventory mix, align symmetries, yada yada yada One thing these companies never talk about? How do we improve the lot for our employees? How do we get our employees to care? How do we get our remaining employees engaged in our success when all we've done is beat them down Okay, that was 3 things, but you get the point Companies don't know how to engage their employees, and they don't care Why should they? The Institution of Leadership has not moved the employee engagement needle since the 1990’s, which is surprising since the same tired old solutions have been recycled as new for decades Servant Leadership hasn't improved engagement Authentic Leadership hasn't improved engagement Emotional Intelligence hasn't improved engagement The Point? Just because others continue to fail to improve employee engagement doesn't mean it can't be done Better ideas, higher engagement It really is that simple The Illusion of Competence #leadership #innovation #tech #management #emotionalintelligence

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American Eagle is the second retailer in two days to lower holiday sales forecasts. The theme is the same robust back to school and weakness expected into the holiday season. Yesterday it was Foot Locker today it’s American Eagle Outfitters Inc. Why is this happening? Low income households in the US, EU and Canada are turning to more online low priced retailers you guessed it right! Temu and SHEIN households are being very prudent, and if we hear about record sales, that statement is true only if it exceeds inflation. That’s not the whole story, if you dig deeper inflation while decreasing there is a sense of nervousness with consumers. Things still cost a lot more. And for some added color Volkswagen Group feels its business is under threat through foreign competition, higher wages, lower price expectations and the threat of tariffs. Volkswagen is being upfront about the economic risks. They plan to cut 10% of their workforce. WSJ( https://lnkd.in/gZX_9b3m) #retailing #strategy #ceo #technology #AmericanEagle #volkswagen

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“Our new store concept cements Foot Locker’s position as the leader in sneaker culture by offering an engaging, cutting-edge shopping experience for the sneaker passionate,” Foot Locker’s president and CEO Mary Dillon stated in a press release.  I spoke with Inside Retail US and Nicole Kirichanskaya and what this all means for the 👟 retailer. Some of my insights: Foot Locker is headed in the right direction with their ’store of the future’ strategy. In fact, it is long overdue. This strategy will put a spotlight on product obsessed sales associates, hyper-localized assortments as well as curated experiences. Rethinking the physical store will get Footlocker to take customer insights and inform product and store decisions based on location and community. This will make every store different and get customers excited about visiting the retailer. The sneaker industry has lost a lot of its luster. Brands like Nike and Under Armour are overstocked with SKUs, and adidas would have had a rough year if it wasn’t for the Samba. Additionally, there are more brands competing for market share. On and HOKA have taken the running community by storm. Brooks Running is focused on innovation and wholesale while PUMA Group and Reebok are relying on celebrities as creative directors to capture a new customer base. The hype around exclusivity and limited editions is not as exciting for consumers, and it will take a lot more than just the product to persuade shoppers to buy. Retailers like Footlocker have the upper hand if they reimagine the physical store as a destination for innovative and exciting experiences vs. focussing on pushing a handful of brands. It’s all about the customer and getting them to spend time in your store. Find the entire article here --> https://lnkd.in/ebzaEUam Shoutout to Neil Saunders and Marie Driscoll, CFA 🙌🏽 #retail #retailnews #footlocker #footwearnews #stores #cx #merchandising

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Tuesday, May 7: 🛋️ Shares of Beyond, Inc. — the parent of Overstock and Bed Bath & Beyond — fell after it reported a deeper-than-expected loss and said it was trying to draw more committed customers amid weak home-goods demand. 🚛 Kohl's’s is now offering same-day delivery via the Instacart app. Using Instacart, customers can place orders for same-day or scheduled delivery from 1,172 Kohl’s locations nationwide. 🎯 Target is expanding its partnership with Hudson's Bay in Canada, broadening the sales of its in-house Cat & Jack children's brand to include swimwear, outerwear, and shoes. The move comes after positive feedback. 🚚 Wholesale remains most profitable investment channel for brands. The channel, which is expected to grow 51% this year, accounts for about 60% of companies’ total sales. 🏬 A fourth Bloomie’s location is set to open in New Jersey this fall, part of the parent company Macy's ongoing strategy to tap into more luxury sales with a new small format strategy. 👷🏼‍♂️ Kroger is planning to spend approximately $45 million in 2024 to remodel 15 stores in Ohio and Indiana. Kroger is highlighting investments in its stores as it presses ahead with the Albertsons merger. 🍓ALDI USA, the American arm of the German-owned discount supermarket chain, has urged its suppliers to cut costs, increase production, and focus on sustainability to stay competitive. ⬇️ More than four-in-five consumer respondents (81%) have noticed shrinkflation, with three-in-10 (29%) having seen it very often since 2020 - according to a survey by Clarify Capital. 💄 Amazon said Monday that its Summer Beauty Haul event is returning next week. Amazon noted the sales promotion starts at 12am PST on May 13 and runs through 11:59pm PST on May 19. 🥩 Shares of meatpacking giant Tyson Foods plunged more than 9% — the stock’s worst day since August — after the company said persistent inflation weakened consumer appetites for meat biting into profits in the second quarter. 🍺 The European boss of Budweiser has said the brewer has learned to “stay in our lane” following a backlash over Bud Light’s work with a transgender influencer. 🧴 Chinese-made skincare brands, such as Skintific, have gained popularity in Muslim-dominated markets like Indonesia and Malaysia. These brands downplay their origins and present themselves as local products. 🇦🇺 Australian supermarkets found to be overcharging customers could face criminal penalties if the government adopts the findings of a new review. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Walmart has removed degree requirements from most of our jobs, with over 75% of our U.S. roles now not requiring a degree.    We are collaborating with The Burning Glass Institute and other leading companies in the Skills-First Workforce Initiative, such as Bank of America, Blackstone, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, PepsiCo and Verizon. Our skills-first approach aims to open up career opportunities, meet employer talent needs and strengthen the economy. The framework will be open source and available to all U.S. employers by September 2025.    Our initial focus is on the nine most prevalent job roles across various sectors, which collectively account for over 11 million American jobs. By creating a shared language, or taxonomy, for assessing and valuing skills, we can promote the widespread adoption of this hiring approach.    Read more here: 

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Aloha Friday! 🤙🏼 Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Friday, July 26: 👨🏻‍💻 Following the announcement that Saks' parent HBC will look to acquire Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion, Saks has confirmed a shakeup of its operations that will entail an undisclosed number of layoffs. 🍋 The potential mega-merger between Kroger and Albertsons is on hold while lawsuits play out in state and federal court. On Thursday, the two companies agreed to a temporary injunction in Colorado. 🚜 Tractor Supply Company stock erased early losses to trade flat Thursday after the retailer posted weaker-than-expected second-quarter sales and narrowed guidance to lower the top of its profit and sales ranges. 👟 Upbeat results from the HOKA and UGG brands prompted Deckers to boost its full-year profit outlook. It now expects $29.75 to $30.65 in earnings per share for the full fiscal year. 🍾 Luxury giant LVMH – the company behind Dior, Tiffany & Co., and a number of champagne labels – reported a 15% decline in Champagne sales in the first half of the year compared to the same period the year prior. 📕 As back-to-school shopping kicks off, Walmart is selling thousands of back-to-school items for less than $10, the retail giant announced. That includes pens, backpacks and lunchboxes, the retailer said. 🌯 Chipotle Mexican Grill customers were right in their complaints about skimpy portion sizes. CEO Brian Niccol disclosed that a company investigation found that 1 in 10 of its restaurants were too meager with their servings. 🏬 Wilshire Rodeo Plaza sits at one end of Rodeo Drive and its new owners are betting big the address on Beverly Hills’ iconic street will lure luxury retailers, The new owners paid more than $208 million for the property. 🦅 American Eagle Outfitters Inc. has launched a “Live Your Life” back-to-school campaign, targeting Gen Z through a mix of co-creation, omnichannel strategies and surprise activations for back-to-school. 🥤 Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. reported quarterly earnings and revenue that met analysts’ expectations on Thursday as higher prices fueled its US soda sales. Net sales rose 3.5% to $3.92 billion. 🍗 Restaurant patrons who order chicken wings marketed as boneless can't expect them to actually be boneless, according to a Thursday ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court. 🍔 Wahlburgers has major beef with a California barbecue company — and it’s taking it to the courts. It accused Backyard BBQ Village and its operator of infringing on its trademarks and unlawfully posing as Wahlburgers. 📈 Consumer confidence increased in June, with consumers feeling more positive about the job market, their household finances and their spending comfort levels. 💰 The US economy grew by 2.8% in the second quarter. A faster than expected pace as consumers continued to open their wallets despite ongoing inflation and high interest rates. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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As a GOOD AMERICAN customer, I can’t wait to experience the store. 👖As a former merchant, having a digital option to showcase styling, fit and product knowledge would have given me the confidence that my merchandising strategy was being executed in the store without having to physically be on location. 📺This is a great way to make sure teams are product obsessed with the constant graphics and that the visual merchandising / styling options are being showcased at the store. 🛍️To make sure this extension of digital is a success, Good American would need to keep the content fresh and consistent with real time inventory and reflective of the current product assortment. Sales associates would still need to be product obsessed but they would also need to show customers what is possible with the digital screens. The experience should augment and assist the sales associate and not be considered a replacement of staff. 🔹The excitement of finding a product on the screen, loving the look and being disappointed if the item or the size is not available could also drive customers away. GA would need to be on top of their inventory position and have a good handle of managing their inventory across all channels. 🗞️Check out more #BrainTrust comments on RetailWire: https://lnkd.in/eDJp--GF #retail #retailnews #goodamerican #cx #stores #merchandising #TRE #TopRetailExpert

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Thursday, June 6: 🧘🏽‍♀️ lululemon beat Wall Street’s earnings and revenue estimates, but issued weak second-quarter guidance as it contends with a slowdown in the Americas, its largest market. 👕 Hanesbrands Inc. will sell Champion to Authentic Brands Group in a deal worth up to $1.5 billion with performance incentives. Authentic owns brands such as Reebok, Forever 21 and Quiksilver. 5️⃣ Five Below cut its outlook for the year, warning that its core low-income shoppers were facing an outsized impact from years of inflationary pressures. It posted an unexpected decline in same-store sales for the first quarter. 👙 Victoria’s Secret & Co. said it was encouraged by demand for its bras, sleepwear and other clothing in May, but the company said it was exercising restraint amid continued caution more broadly among the US consumer. 🏪 Foxtrot intends to reopen several locations in Chicago in the Gold Coast and Old Town neighborhoods. The news comes after Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen & Market closed on April 23. 🌳 Dollar Tree Stores Tree said that it had started a formal review of strategic alternatives for Family Dollar, which it said could include among others, a potential sale, spin off or other disposition of the business. 💵 Walmart is now offering bonuses to its hourly employees in the US., the company announced Wednesday. The longer an associate has been with the company, the higher the associate's bonus potential, to a maximum of $1,000. 📚 In a blow to publishers and authors, Costco Wholesale plans to stop selling books regularly at stores around the United States, four publishing executives who had been informed of the warehouse retailer’s plans said Wednesday. 🚚 Albertsons and Uber have launched a new food rescue initiative that aims to address food insecurity and food waste in several major US cities. The program donates surplus food from the grocer’s stores to local nonprofits. 📸The TJX Companies, Inc., parent of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, said it’s equipping some store employees with body cameras to thwart shoplifting and keep customers and employees safe. 🍔 McDonald's lost a European Union trademark dispute over the Big Mac name after a top European Union court sided Wednesday with Irish fast-food rival Supermac's in a long-running legal battle. ✂️ The Bank of Canada's decision on Wednesday to cut interest rates from 5% to 4.75% is expected to provide financial relief to Canadians and encourage consumer spending. 🧳 Shinola and Filson parent Bedrock Manufacturing Company has appointed Steve Katzman to the role of CEO and Kevin Wertz as chief marketing officer. 🇦🇺 ALDI Stores Australia is moving into the insurance sector, with the launch of a series of homes and contents, car, and landlord products. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Saturday, May 11: 📉 Consumer sentiment plunged to the lowest level in six months as price increases reaccelerated, according to the latest University of Michigan survey of consumers, released Friday. 🏬 JCPenney remains profitable and could open new stores. Holiday and full-year sales fell, and net income plunged. But the CEO of one of the retailer’s owners says its ongoing profitability could merit an expansion. 🛍️ The retail industry is going through a tough time as it copes with inflation-weary consumers and a rash of bankruptcies, prompting chains to announce the closures of almost 3,200 brick-and-mortar stores so far in 2024. 💊 The Vitamin Shoppe  has announced that subscribers to its telehealth service will have access to weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Rybelsus. 🏪 99 Cents Only Stores in Texas may soon morph into Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Inc. or Dollar Tree Stores as competitors of the California-based retailer find discounted real estate in the bankruptcy liquidation. 👕 On average, Britons bought three items of clothing from secondhand retailers in 2023, with young adults buying 5.3 items on average, compared to 1.7 items for those aged 55 and over. 🥫 Weis Markets plans to begin construction on six new stores this year that will open in 2025, according to a company earnings release. This marks a significant uptick in openings for the company compared to the past few years. 👜 Hermès has asked a US judge to dismiss a "far-fetched" class-action lawsuit accusing it of forcing shoppers to spend thousands of dollars on goods before having a chance to buy one of its Birkin handbags. 🇨🇦 Canadian Tire Corporation Tire has reported a drop in first-quarter retail sales in its first quarter, citing a “challenging consumer demand environment” as Canadians continue to cut back on non-essential spending. 🥣 The outlook for yoghurt looks particularly sour as Americans’ love affair with the creamy, fermented dairy product is over. That's one reason General Mills is looking to sell its yoghurt business. 🍄 Meati Foods is set to add 2,000 retail locations within Kroger's family of stores by April, expanding its presence in the market. The company offers alternative protein products made from mycelium, or mushroom root. 🍍 A new variety of a rare, high-end pineapple is now available to purchase in the US. Del Monte is introducing Rubyglow pineapples, a new variety of the tropical fruit, to the US market. 🎌 Japan's consumer spending shrank for the 13th consecutive month in March, according to government data. This poses challenges for policymakers who are aiming for self-sustaining economic growth. 📦 The Commerce Department reported that US wholesale inventories fell 0.4% in March, having risen 0.2% in February. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Today’s results from Kohl's are dismal. They show a company that remains in freefall at a time when most other retailers are at least maintaining their elevation. A 5.3% decline in overall sales, underpinned by a 4.4% decline in comparables, is way worse than the market which, across the categories Kohl’s sells, grew by 2.9% over the quarter. This is the third year in which first quarter sales have declined. And, compared to the same period in 2019, sales are down by a sharp 16.8%. In cash terms, this means Kohl’s has lost $643 million in revenue. Unfortunately, the problems on the sales line are now filtering through to the bottom line where last year’s modest profit of $14 million has been replaced with a $27 million loss. Kohl’s management team says a lot of the right things around merchandising and the essentials of retail. However, not much has changed on the shop floor, which is one of the reason why Kohl's continues to lose customers on top of the 1.5 million it lost over the past five years. Thanks to The Wall Street Journal for including my comments in the article linked in the comments.... #retail #retailnews #departmentstores #trading #KSS

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With the 8.1% sales decline accelerating over the last quarter and with losses growing on the bottom line, JCPenney has started its new fiscal year on a sour note. Unfortunately, the market has been soft which has not helped revenue, but as it is only part way through its reinvention program JC Penney also isn’t firmly on the front foot. Lower credit income is also unhelpful, with revenues here down by 20.5 over last year.   The changes JCP has been making to some stores and to assortments seem to be delivering, with refurbished shops performing better and some categories like womenswear producing stronger numbers. Sadly, these things are not yet sufficiently developed or widespread enough to offset staleness in the balance of the business. Basically, there is still a lot of work to do to put JCP on a more stable footing.   Fortunately for JCPenney, it is well financed and has a strong financial partner in its owners. As such, management won’t lose too much sleep over being in the red. However, the company needs to produce some better results across the remainder of this fiscal to prove its strategy is working. It was great to chat with Daphne Howland of Retail Dive about the latest Q1 numbers - link to article in the comments. #retail #retailnews #departmentstores #trading #apparel

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“We saw an opportunity in the market to really lean into the #GenZ customer with incredible style at an extraordinary price point that only someone like Walmart can bring given our scale.” Good move by Walmart as part of their larger revamp of #apparel. But product is only one piece of the equation. For #NoBoundaries to compete head-to-head against Abercrombie & Fitch Co., AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS INC., or any of the other brands targeting Gen-Z, it will take a more holistic effort across #stores, #digital, and #marketing (content and medium) to create real #brand momentum. https://lnkd.in/eudxA2bF

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Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. **HanesBrands Stock In Focus After Earnings Beat: Retail Sentiment Slips** 💼 Earnings per share (EPS) surpass estimates at $0.15, beating the consensus of $0.12 💼 Revenues reach $937.1 million, exceeding analyst expectations by 0.07% 💼 The latest earnings report from HanesBrands has caught the attention of investors as the company outperformed expectations. With earnings per share coming in at $0.15, above the consensus estimate of $0.12, and revenues standing at $937.1 million, exceeding predictions by 0.07%, HanesBrands has demonstrated strong financial performance. Investors who have allocated their funds to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can take advantage of this positive news by considering HanesBrands as a potential investment opportunity. By investing in companies such as HanesBrands that show consistent growth and beat earnings expectations, individuals can maximize their HSA investment returns while also supporting the healthcare and wellness industry. Don't miss out on the potential benefits of investing in HanesBrands and growing your HSA. Act now to ensure you are on the right path to financial success and securing a healthier future for you and your family. #hsa #investing #healthcare #health #family #wellness 💪💰✨

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It’s been another rough year at U.S. department stores so far, at least for those making their financial filings public. Several of them — public and private — have embarked on turnarounds or are contemplating changes that could be a final test of a challenged retail model. #departmentstores #retailstrategy #turnaroundstrategy #retailsales

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