Franchising, retail, business
19/05/2015
Wal-Mart's same-store-sales growth in the US was weaker than expected for its most recent quarter.
In an earnings call Tuesday, Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon blamed a decline in customers' discretionary spending.
"Based on recent surveys, we know that many of our US customers are using their tax refunds and the extra money from lower gas prices to pay down debt or put it into savings," McMillon said, according to a transcript of the call. "They're also using these funds for everyday expenses like utilities and groceries."
The company reported a 1.1% rise in US same-store sales in the first quarter (ending April 30), missing expectations of a 1.5% increase.
Wal-Mart also reported diluted earnings per share of $1.03, missing expectations for $1.05, according to Bloomberg. It noted that the impact of foreign currency erased 3¢ per share from its earnings.
The company generated revenue of $114.88 billion, below the consensus forecast for $116.23 billion.
Despite recent gains in employment, consumers don't have the spending power they once did.
All of the groups surveyed by the Federal Reserve Board in 2013 had a lower mean income than they did in 2007.
Mean wealth also declined for all the groups.
"The numbers that you're seeing in retail overall [show] the customer is still a little bit cautious, maybe optimistically cautious," Charles Holley, Wal-Mart's chief financial officer, said Tuesday on a call with reporters.