Wednesday, October 31, 2012

US Big Retail Corps 3Q 2012 Earnings Up a Solid, High Quality 6%

I found 38 US Retail Corps, which file with the SEC, which have already reported their calendar 3Q 2012 earnings, and which also generated Core, Ongoing Pretax Income or Pretax Loss of more than $100 mil in either the 3Q 2012 or in the 3Q 2011.

The four Retail Corps which should surpass the $100 mil profit target, but which are not included below because they haven't yet reported their calendar 3Q 2012 earnings, are Publix Super Markets, Starbucks, Whole Foods Market, and Sally Beauty Holdings.

These 38 US Retail Corps had Total Pretax Income in the 3Q 2012 of $21,636 mil, up a very solid 6.4%, from the 3Q 2011, which is pretty impressive in these pretty tough economic times in the US, and extremely tough economic times in Europe.

Walmart dominates these 38 US Big Retailers, comprising 29% of 3Q 2012 Total Pretax Income of all 38.  Walmart had a strong 3Q 2012, with Pretax Earnings growth of 7% over the prior year's quarter.

As you can see from the below list, many of these US Retailers had outstanding earnings growth in the 3Q 2012 over the prior year's quarter.

And the quality of this total 6.4% earnings growth in the 3Q 2012 is high.

Amazon's reported earnings declined by $152 mil in the 3Q 2012, but that is really misleading in real earnings' terms.  Amazon's Net Sales increased 27% in the 3Q 2012, but its reported Pretax Earnings were substantially softened by its many huge investments it is making, which will benefit Amazon to a great extent in the future, but which also get reflected in earnings as charges under US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  For instance, Amazon's Technology and Content Expense in the 3Q 2012 was $423 mil higher, or 55% above, the prior year's quarter. 

Nordstrom's 3Q 2012 earnings decline is due to the timing of its Anniversary Sale.

Extreme weakness in the European economy, coupled with a weaker Euro, hindered the US Big Retailers with a large presence there like McDonalds.

And given the very high quality of each of the four US Retailers that haven't reported their earnings yet, my hunch is that this 6.4% earnings growth will increase by a bit after they report their 3Q 2012 earnings.

Further, it should also be pointed out that the Total 3Q 2012 Earnings Per Share growth of these 38 Big US Retailers is a bit higher than this 6.4% Total Pretax Earnings growth.  This is due to many of these large US Retailers having substantial stock buyback programs.

For instance, the GAP's Pretax Earnings increase of a very impressive 29% in the most recent quarter turns into an even much more impressive 40% increase on an Earnings Per Share basis.  No, I'm not kidding.  This is what the GAP's massive stock buyback program does.  And Walmart's After-tax Net Income growth of 5.7% turns into an 8.3% Earnings Per Share growth, again due to its huge stock buybacks.

Can you imagine what the earnings growth of these US Retailers would be if you had a US Congress that worked with the President, rather than one that has intentionally stymied US economic growth and US job creation until after the November 2012 election.....a heartless, mean-spirited Party over suffering People strategy, from my perspective. 

And particularly because all of the Republicans in both the US House and the US Senate have voted against the tax cuts for everyone, starting on January 1, 2013, on the first $250,000 of everyone's taxable income, US Retailers will be hurt markedly by the resultant high level of consumer uncertainty in the critically key Thanksgiving to Christmas 2012 sales period. 

Below is the Ongoing, Core Pretax Income (PTI) or Pretax Loss (PTL) of these 38 Big US Retailers for both the 3Q 2012 and the 3Q 2011.





Increase Increase

State PTI(L) PTI(L) (Decrease) (Decrease)

HQs 3Q 2012 3Q 2011 Amount %

mils $s mils $s mils $s
Big Retail Corps










Walmart AR 6,193 5,805 388 7%
Home Depot GA 2,418 2,148 270 13%
McDonalds IL 2,154 2,263 (109) -5%
Lowes NC 1,197 1,329 (132) -10%
Target MN 1,071 1,109 (38) -3%
Costco WA 965 772 193 25%
TJX MA 683 559 124 22%
Yum Brands KY 639 456 183 40%
Autozone TN 502 470 32 7%
Macy's OH 449 395 54 14%
Kroger OH 429 391 38 10%
GAP CA 405 313 92 29%
Kohls WI 377 475 (98) -21%
Bed Bath & Beyond NJ 365 370 (5) -1%
Sherwin Williams OH 343 260 83 32%
Dollar General TN 325 231 94 41%
Ross Stores CA 297 242 55 23%
OReilly Automotive MO 254 235 19 8%
Nordstrom WA 250 290 (40) -14%
Limited Brands OH 229 242 (13) -5%
Dollar Tree VA 183 152 31 20%
CarMax VA 181 180 1 1%
Staples MA 178 237 (59) -25%
Fastenal MN 176 155 21 14%
Advance Auto Parts VA 161 181 (20) -11%
Safeway CA 158 196 (38) -19%
Darden Restaurants FL 146 147 (1) -1%
Tiffany NY 140 131 9 7%
Autonation FL 133 116 17 15%
Dick's Sporting Goods PA 133 108 25 23%
Family Dollar Stores NC 127 125 2 2%
Petsmart AZ 123 96 27 28%
JC Penney TX 118 47 71 151%
Chipotle Mexican Grill CO 118 98 20 20%
Best Buy MN 100 235 (135) -57%
Supervalu MN 96 (108) 204 189%
Amazon WA (22) 130 (152) -117%
Sears Holding IL (158) (247) 89 36%




Total all 38
21,636 20,334 1,302 6.4%