Retailers Struggle To Start May

May has not been kind to retailers. Adding to weak earnings results are multiple economic releases.

Same store sales are down 1.3 percent for the mid-may period, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index. Despite stocks trading much higher than they were a year ago, retail sales are up just 2.4 percent. Economists were expecting more than three percent growth for the month, which is still a possible target.

The list below summarizes how companies have reported thus far.

Tuesday:

• Home Depot: 3.03 percent earnings miss, 1.3 percent revenue miss, Strong guidance
• Staples: 14.29 percent earnings miss, 0.53 percent revenue beat, Low guidance
• TJX Companies: 4.48 percent earnings miss, 1.67 percent revenue miss, Low guidance
• Dick’s Sporting Goods: 3.85 percent earnings miss, 1.37 percent revenue miss, Low guidance

Monday:

• Urban Outfitters: 3.7 percent earnings miss, 0.79 percent revenue beat

Last Week:

• Wal-Mart: 5.17 percent earnings miss, 1.1 percent revenue beat, Low guidance
• Macy’s: Inline earnings, 2.94 percent revenue miss
• Nordstrom: 5.88 percent earnings beat, 2.1 percent revenue beat
• JC Penney: 7.2 percent earnings beat, 3.32 percent revenue beat
• Kohl’s: 4.76 percent earnings miss, 3.78 percent revenue miss