Earnings releases from traditional brick-and-mortar retailers in recent days have been as positive and strong as has been the trend across other sectors in the Q2 reporting cycle.
Driving this trend is a combination of favorable consumer fundamentals and the emergence of viable business models that blend digital access with these operators’ existing physical footprint. While a number of retailers like Walmart (WMT Quick QuoteWMT ) were already moving in that direction before the pandemic, the transition was accelerated by Covid-related business disruptions.
A case in point is Macy’s (M Quick QuoteM ) , which had almost been written off as a viable player in the space before the pandemic, but appears to have really turned around its fortunes, as the beat-and-raise Q2 earnings report confirms.
For the sector scorecard, we now have Q2 results from 76.5% of retailers in the S&P 500 index. Total Q2 earnings for these retailers are up +46.3% on +14.3% higher revenues, with a record 92.3% of the retailers beating EPS and revenue estimates. This is a notably better showing from this group of retailers relative to what we have been seeing from the group in recent periods, as the comparison charts below show
Top 5 Stocks To Buy For 2023: Westar Energy, Inc.(WR)
Westar Energy, Inc. (Westar Energy), incorporated on March 6, 1924, is an electric utility in Kansas. The Company provides electric generation, transmission and distribution services to approximately 700,000 customers in Kansas. The Company provides these services in central and northeastern Kansas, including the cities of Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, Salina and Hutchinson. Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KGE), Westar Energy’s subsidiary, provides the services in south-central and southeastern Kansas, including the city of Wichita. Both Westar Energy and KGE conduct business using the name Westar Energy. The Company supplies electric energy at retail to customers in Kansas. The Company also supplies electric energy at wholesale to municipalities and electric cooperatives in Kansas, and has contracts for the sale or purchase of wholesale electricity with other utilities. The Company classifies it customers as residential, commercial and industrial. It has approximately 6,270 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity in service.
Fossil Fuel Generation
The three coal-fired units at Jeffrey energy center have an aggregate capacity of approximately 2,150 MW, of which the Company owns or consolidate through a variable interest entity (VIE) a combined share, or over 1,970 MW. The two coal-fired units at La Cygne Generating Station (La Cygne) have an aggregate generating capacity of approximately 1,400 MW, of which the Company owns or consolidate, through a VIE. La Cygne uses primarily Powder River Basin (PRB) coal but one of the two units also uses a small portion of locally mined coal. Lawrence and Tecumseh Energy Centers have an aggregate generating capacity of approximately 540 MW.
Natural Gas
The Company uses natural gas as a primary fuel at its Gordon Evans, Murray Gill, Hutchinson, Spring Creek and Emporia Energy Centers and at the State Line facility. The Company also uses natural gas as a supplemental fuel in the coal-fired units at Lawrence and Tecumseh Energy Centers.
Diesel
The Company uses diesel to start some of its coal generating stations, as a primary fuel in the Hutchinson No. 4 combustion turbine and in its diesel generators. The Company also purchases No. 2 diesel in the spot market.
Nuclear Generation
Wolf Creek is approximately 1,170 MW nuclear power plant located near Burlington, Kansas. KGE owns an interest in Wolf Creek, or approximately 550 MW.
Wind Generation
The Company owns approximately 150 MW of designed installed wind capacity. Also of the approximately 1,310 MW of wind power under contract, the Company has over 910 MW in operation.
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Shane Hupp]
PG&E (NYSE: WR) and Westar Energy (NYSE:WR) are both utilities companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations and profitability.
- [By Ethan Ryder]
Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG) and Westar Energy (NYSE:WR) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Friday afternoon, the utilities shares surged 0.43 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Spark Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPKE), up 4 percent, and Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) up 3 percent.
- [By Shane Hupp]
DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale cut its holdings in Westar Energy (NYSE:WR) by 11.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,441 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 968 shares during the quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale’s holdings in Westar Energy were worth $430,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Top 5 Stocks To Buy For 2023: Covetrus, Inc.(CVET)
Covetrus, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an animal-health technology and services company. It engages in the sale of animal-health consumable products, including proprietary and Covetrus branded products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment, equipment repair services, branded and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products, parasiticides, and vitamins and supplements to wholesale and retail customers. The company also offers value-added solutions that include, inventory management and e-commerce, as well as continuing education services for practitioners. In addition, it provides practice management software systems for veterinary practitioners and animal-health clinics, client communication services, reminders, data backup services, and hardware sales and support services. Further, the company engages in the distribution of finished goods pharmacy and specialty pharmaceutical compounding products, as well as shipping, manufacturer incentives, service fees, and data integration and support services. It serves animal-health and veterinary practices, and clinics in the companion-animal and equine markets primarily in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as HS Spinco, Inc. Covetrus, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Portland, Maine.
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By ]
Arizona State Retirement System lessened its holdings in Covetrus, Inc. (NASDAQ:CVET) by 17.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 27,678 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,730 shares during the quarter. Arizona State Retirement System’s holdings in Covetrus were worth $747,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
- [By Michael A. Robinson]
And in late February, General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) completed the $2.9 billion spin-off of its transportation unit. Just three weeks before that, medical distributor Henry Schein Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) shed its animal health business and completed a merger to create Covetrus Inc. (Nasdaq:CVET) in a deal valued at up to $1.2 billion.
Top 5 Stocks To Buy For 2023: Exxon Mobil Corporation(XOM)
Exxon Mobil Corporation explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas in the United States, Canada/South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia/Oceania. It also manufactures and markets commodity petrochemicals, including olefins, aromatics, polyethylene and polypropylene plastics, and specialty products; and transports and sells crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products. As of December 31, 2015, the company had approximately 35,909 gross and 30,114 net operated wells. Exxon Mobil Corporation was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
