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The Retail Rollercoaster: Winners, Losers, and the Economic Red Flags

Austin Smith

Published: September 12, 2024 8:30 am

Last Updated: September 29, 2024 6:36 am

Key Points:

• Mixed retail performance: Walmart thrives, while Dollar General and Nordstrom struggle.
• Inflation heavily impacts lower-income shoppers, hurting discount stores.
• Consumer caution may extend to middle-class retailers, signaling potential economic trouble.
• One of the best ways to protect yourself in a downturn is high-quality dividend stocks. Smart money is scooping up these two dividend legends before word gets out.

The mixed performance of major retailers, with companies like Walmart performing well, while others like Nordstrom and Dollar General struggle. Dollar General’s poor earnings report is particularly concerning, as it indicates that lower-income consumers, who are typically their core customers, are facing significant financial challenges due to inflation. This could signal deeper economic issues, potentially leading to a broader recession. The conversation also touches on how middle and upper-middle-income shoppers are shifting towards more budget-friendly options like Walmart, further emphasizing the economic strain. The discussion concludes by noting that this consumer caution could eventually impact higher-end retailers, raising concerns about the overall health of the retail sector as we move into the coming quarters.

Mixed Results Across the Retail Landscape

• Major retailers have reported their earnings, revealing a mixed performance across the board.
  • Walmart hit a home run with strong sales.
  • Target performed well, but Macy’s and Nordstrom struggled, with Nordstrom facing potential buyout talks from its founding family.
• Smaller retailers like Dollar General and Dollar Tree reported disappointing earnings, raising concerns about the broader economic environment.

The Struggles of Discount Retailers: A Warning Sign?

• Dollar General and Dollar Tree, typically resilient during tough economic times, posted poor earnings, a significant red flag.
  • Dollar General’s stock has plummeted 48% since March, with a 35% drop after their earnings report.
  • The company’s CEO highlighted that their core customers, primarily lower to lower-middle-income earners, are facing financial difficulties.
• This downturn suggests that inflation is hitting lower-income consumers hard, potentially signaling broader economic troubles ahead.

Inflation’s Impact: The Sausage Indicator and Consumer Behavior Shifts

• Inflation has significantly affected lower-income households, with prices rising steadily over the past three years.
  • A new economic indicator, the “sausage indicator,” shows that consumers are opting for cheaper meats like packaged sausages over more expensive options like ground beef, highlighting financial strain.
  • This behavior shift could indicate a stealth recession that might become a full-blown economic downturn in the coming quarters.

The Broader Implications: Will Consumer Caution Spread?

• If inflation continues to squeeze the lower-income segment, it could start to affect middle-class consumers, pushing caution up the economic ladder.
  • Retailers like Macy’s and Nordstrom, which rely on middle-class shoppers, could be next in line to feel the impact.
  • Big box stores like Walmart have an advantage due to their diverse product offerings and strong purchasing power, which may help them weather the storm better than smaller discount retailers.

Conclusion: A Red Flag for the Retail Sector

• The current trends in retail, especially among discount retailers, suggest significant underlying economic issues.
  • The situation warrants close monitoring, with the potential for a broader impact on the retail sector if consumer caution continues to spread.
  • It will be crucial to revisit this topic at the end of the year to assess whether these trends have worsened or improved as we move into 2025.