How Did Retailers Fare In March?

U.S. retail March sales numbers have started to trickle out. Here’s a quick look at the March and Q1 numbers available so far.

9 Names

• Costco Wholesale Corporation COST reported a 1.0 percent rise in same-store sales (SSS) (including gasoline and forex) in the United States, but a 1.0 percent decline in SSS internationally. With gasoline and forex removed, the retailer logged 3.0 percent SSS gains domestically and 5.0 percent gains internationally.
• L Brands Inc LB reported a 3.0 percent year-over-year (Y/Y) gain in SSS, including a 5.0 percent gain from Bath & Body Works.
• Buckle Inc BKE reported an 11.8 percent Y/Y drop in SSS and an 11.0 percent decline in total revenue for the month of March.
• Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. TLF reported a 2.0 percent Y/Y SSS gain in March, although sales year-to-date are still down 0.5 percent compared to 2015.
• Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. HVT reported Q1 SSS growth of 0.9 percent and total sales growth of 1.7 percent compared to Q1 of last year.

• Conn’s Inc CONN reported an 8.5 percent March SSS growth decline, including a 22.5 percent Y/Y decline in consumer electronics sales.
• Rite Aid Corporation RAD reported a 0.6 percent decline in Q1 SSS, including a 0.8 percent drop in pharmacy sales.
• Channel Advisor reported Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN’s March SSS climbed 14.9 percent, slightly down from February’s 16.6 percent Y/Y jump.
• Channel Advisor also reported eBay Inc EBAY’s March SSS declined 0.2 percent in March after a big 9.5 percent Y/Y gain in February.

Disclosure: The author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.