To date, 140 of the 204 companies in our Retail/Restaurant Index have reported their EPS results for Q4 2023, representing 68% of the index. Of those companies that have reported their quarterly results, 68% announced profits that beat analysts’ expectations, while 4% delivered on-target results and 28% reported earnings that fell below estimates. The Q4 2023 blended earnings growth estimate now stands at 34.4%. The blended revenue growth estimate for the 204 companies in this index is 4.5% for Q4 2023. Of those companies that have reported their quarterly results so far, 56% announced revenue that exceeded analysts’ expectations and

Even as supply chain disruptions continue to weigh on retailers, the impact of soaring inflation is taking a toll on consumers’ willingness to buy, much less to pay top dollar. Shoppers feeling the pinch are looking for value and starting to trim their discretionary spending. A case in point: as Netflix boosted its prices, the company reported cost-conscious consumers simply axed their subscriptions. There seems to be no end in sight to the pain, as disruptions to trade in the Black Sea region are affecting food supplies, creating shortages and putting upward pressure on global prices of key commodities. EBITDA