These 35 Retailers generated 2Q 2013 Total After-tax Adjusted Earnings which were up 4.8% over the 2Q 2012. This compares to their Total Revenue growth of 2.8% in the 2Q 2013.
So many of these Retailers have very aggressive common stock buyback programs, which should add another 4% to their total earnings growth in the 2Q 2013, which brings the Total Earnings Per Share growth to 9%.
These large US retailers are where many of the country's minimum wage, and just above minimum wage, workers are located.
Given the huge economic inequality which not only exists in the US, but continues to expand monthly, it only makes sense to increase the US Federal minimum wage by a substantial amount. This would put a substantially higher amount of money in the hands of consumers which will dramatically increase consumer demand.
To make a huge increase in the US Federal minimum wage more palatable to businesses, I would consider pairing it with an accompanying continuing substantial income tax break for businesses most impacted by it.
Below here are the earnings of these 35 US Big Retailers for the 2Q 2013 and for the comparable 2Q 2012. Also included are the percentage changes in both earnings and total revenues:
| 2Q 2013 | 2Q 2012 | ||||
| Adjusted | Adjusted | ||||
| Net | Net | Adjusted | Adjusted | 2Q 2013 | |
| Income | Income | Net | Net | Total | |
| From | From | Income | Income | Revenues | |
| Continuing | Continuing | Increase | Increase | Increase | |
| Operations | Operations | (Decrease) | (Decrease) | (Decrease) | |
| mil $s | mil $s | Amount | % | % | |
| US Retailers | |||||
| Walmart | 3,784 | 3,742 | 42 | 1% | 1% |
| McDonalds | 1,397 | 1,347 | 50 | 4% | 2% |
| Home Depot | 1,226 | 1,035 | 191 | 18% | 7% |
| Target | 683 | 744 | (61) | -8% | -1% |
| Lowes | 540 | 527 | 13 | 2% | 0% |
| Kroger | 481 | 439 | 42 | 10% | 3% |
| Costco | 459 | 386 | 73 | 19% | 8% |
| TJX | 453 | 419 | 34 | 8% | 7% |
| Starbucks | 418 | 333 | 85 | 26% | 13% |
| Publix Super Markets | 401 | 382 | 19 | 5% | 4% |
| GAP | 333 | 233 | 100 | 43% | 7% |
| Yum Brands | 281 | 331 | (50) | -15% | -8% |
| Autozone | 266 | 249 | 17 | 7% | 4% |
| Sherwin Williams | 257 | 228 | 29 | 13% | 5% |
| Ross Stores | 235 | 209 | 26 | 12% | 8% |
| Dollar General | 232 | 215 | 17 | 8% | 9% |
| Macys | 217 | 181 | 36 | 20% | 4% |
| Bed Bath & Beyond | 202 | 207 | (5) | -2% | 18% |
| OReilly Automotive | 177 | 146 | 31 | 21% | 10% |
| Staples | 170 | 193 | (23) | -12% | -3% |
| Kohls | 147 | 154 | (7) | -5% | -1% |
| CarMax | 147 | 121 | 26 | 21% | 19% |
| Nordstrom | 145 | 149 | (4) | -3% | 5% |
| L Brands | 143 | 125 | 18 | 14% | 5% |
| Whole Foods Market | 142 | 117 | 25 | 21% | 12% |
| Foot Locker | 139 | 128 | 11 | 9% | 4% |
| Dollar Tree | 134 | 116 | 18 | 16% | 8% |
| Darden Restaurants | 133 | 152 | (19) | -13% | 11% |
| Tractor Supply | 124 | 107 | 17 | 16% | 13% |
| Family Dollar Stores | 121 | 125 | (4) | -3% | 9% |
| Fastenal | 121 | 112 | 9 | 8% | 5% |
| Advance Auto Parts | 117 | 100 | 17 | 17% | 6% |
| Dillards | 113 | 95 | 18 | 19% | 0% |
| Best Buy | 110 | 262 | (152) | -58% | -10% |
| PetSmart | 102 | 95 | 7 | 7% | 5% |
| Total all 35 | 14,150 | 13,504 | 646 | 4.8% | 2.8% |
