Sears Sears‚ Roebuck and Co. vs Wal-Mart Stores‚ Inc 1. In the time highlighted in the case‚ Sears and Wal-Mart both had impressive ROEs for the retail industry. However‚ the retailing strategies of the two large department store chains vary. Wal-Mart operates as a discount retailer and even has a slogan of “Always low prices.” In contrast‚ Sears is a more traditional department store. Based on this distinction‚ Wal-Mart focuses on high turnover and less on profit margin. Wal-Mart and Sears
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has been asked to analyze the financial performance of Sears and Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart is the industry powerhouse‚ its 20% return on equity (ROE) lags behind that of Sears’ 22%. Analysis: Wal-Mart operates fewer stores than Sears but is ahead in terms of total selling area by a ratio of 3.4:1. Between 1995 and 1997‚ Sears’ retail store revenue per selling square foot was not only lower than that of Wal-Mart but in decline. Sears allows customers to pay for merchandise over time if
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presented on the Analysis for ROE with regards to Sears of 51.4% for 1996 and of 22% for 1997 are deceiving. Even though they are shown above the ones from Wal-Mart of 35.7 % for 1997 and 19.8 % for 1998 this doesn’t mean they have a healthier financial and more stable company than Wal-Mart. When we take apart the ROE number into its parts we can see a really high leverage from Sears. Wal-Mart with just a few points below the ROE from Sears when analyzed seems more solid and stable. Lets remember
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strategies of Sears and Walmart differ? Company Background-Sears • Founded in 1891‚ operated solely as a catalog business • In 1924‚ expanded into retail stores in shopping mall ▫ Sold a variety of merchandise including apparel‚ cosmetics‚ jewelry‚ electronic‚ household appliances…. • Early 1980s‚ faced with declining market share ▫ Target audience of middle class female shoppers ▫ Slogan ”Come see the softer side of Sears” Company Background-Walmart • Founded in 1962‚ opened the first Walmart in Bentonvile
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Sears Vs. Walmart Financial Performance Comparison Profit Margin Profit Margin‚ Sears Co. | | 1997 | | 1996 | | 1995 | Net income | 1‚188 | -6.53% | 1‚271 | -29.43% | 1‚801 | Total revenues | 36‚371 | 7.76% | 33‚751 | 8.41% | 31‚133 | Profit Margin | 3.27% | | 3.77% | | 5.78% | This Profit Margin ratio is acceptable‚ though not high. The result means that for each dollar of sales at Sears Co.‚ the company earns only 3.27 cents in 1997‚ compared to 3.77 cents and 5.78 cents in 1996 and 1995 respectively
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Case Questions: Sears‚ Roebuck and Co. vs. Wal-Mart Stores‚ Inc. Answers must be posted to Compass. You may work in groups of no more than four people. Be sure to remember to submit ALL names and UINs on the assignment. 1. How do the retailing strategies of Sears and Wal-Mart differ? How does each firm operate their business/attempt to create value? The major difference in these two companies’ retailing strategies‚ according to their filings in 2014‚ lies in the ways they expand their sales
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and predicting future value creation for Sears? For Wal-Mart? Sears Sears grew up to the world’s largest retailer by expanding annual sales through diversifying sale products‚ such as apparel‚ cosmetics‚ jewelry‚ electronics‚ household appliances‚ cookware‚ bedding and hand-tools. This article shows that Sears suffered from a cost increase in 1997‚ including lawsuits‚ credit collectibles and sales in Mexico. Besides‚ the flexible payment facility that Sears offered is also a reason for cost increase
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Case Synopses Walmart Stores‚ Inc. 09/12/13 Which strategic management concepts are useful in the analysis of this case? 1. SWOT Analysis Walmart’s internal strengths and weaknesses and environmental opportunities and threads are: Strengths Highly motivated and committed employees (Associates) Top management involved on daily operations (street managers) Latitude price setting (allows more profitability in different locations) Technology oriented (Satellite system and logistic
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Kmart and Sears: Still Stuck In The Middle? On January 22‚ 2002‚ Kmart Corporation became the largest retailer in U.S. history to seek bankruptcy protection. Kmart management said that they would outline a plan for repaying Kmart’s creditors‚ reducing its size‚ and restructuring its business so that it could leave court protection as a viable competitor in discount mass-marketretailing. Emerging from bankruptcy in May 2003‚ Kmart still lacked a business strategy to succeed in an extremely competitive
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SEAR ROEBUCKS SWOT ANALYSIS Author Diane Hughes SEARS HISTORY Richard Sears was agent of the Minneapolis andSt. Louis railway station. He sold lumber and coal to local residents in his spare time. When he received a shipment of unwanted watches he purchased himself and began selling them at a good profit to other station agent up and down the line. In 1886 Sears began the R.W. Sears Watch Company. In 1887 he moved the business to Chicago and put an adin the local paper for a Watchman
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