JB Hi-Fi reported 1H24 sales down 2% and EBIT down 19%.  While a weak result year-on-year, profitability is well up on four years ago and on a normalisation path. Sales declines have abated more recently, but weak sales are likely for at least 12 months in our view. Gross margins are likely to soften further and operating cost growth will remain elevated. As a result, there is limited earnings growth over the next three years.

Australian retail sales only rose 0.3% for December 2023. If we average November and December, given the Black Friday pull-forward, growth was still a weak 1.1%. The additional detail for December highlights a consumer that is increasingly cautious. Café & restaurant sales were particularly weak, along with liquor and all household goods categories declined.

Many Australian consumer companies are likely to report weak 1H24e results. However, they are likely to be better than consensus estimates with slightly better sales trends and higher gross margins in some cases. While earnings should be fine this half, share prices have run in anticipation of results and the trading updates and outlook commentary are likely to flag higher operating cost growth as a headwind.

We initiate coverage of footwear and apparel retailer Accent Group. The company has store rollout potential to grow by 240 stores in four years, or a 6.6% CAGR. Moreover, the evolving product mix contributes to higher gross margins as more vertically sourced product and more higher margin apparel goods are sold. However, the company is facing rising cost of doing business coupled with a period of slowing same store sales which puts pressure on margins in FY24e. The store network growth potential and gross margin gains will help lift margins in FY25e and more so in FY26e.

Australian retailers have had a decent Christmas in 2023, particularly compared with low expectations amongst retailers and investors. Supermarkets traded solidly and electronics demand improved from very weak levels. Liquor and apparel are still trending at very low rates of growth. There is consensus upgrade risk to retailers, particularly Harvey Norman and Super Retail Group. While sales trends are slightly better, the strength of gross margin is the most significant driver of better earnings. The retailer where feedback has shifted most positively is Harvey Norman.

City Chic’s trading update showed that sales trends remain weak, but the company is rapidly clearing excess inventory. The sales declines are likely to ease by the end of calendar 2023. Gross margins could recover by 20 percentage points in 2H24e. City Chic’s past mistake of excess inventory is being corrected.

Treasury Wines reported FY23 EBITS up 11%. The second-half rose by 6%. While the profit result was decent, the sales performance was poor, particularly in the Americas. Margin targets have largely been met and the company needs to kick start revenue growth from here. We expect revenue to rebound in 2H24e. The lower Australian dollar will represent a meaningful contribution to the achievement of “high single-digit” EBITS growth in FY24e.  The key share price driver remains an unwind of tariffs in China, which may happen within the next six months.

Treasury Wines reported FY22 EBITS of $524 million, an increase of 3%. EBITS remains above FY20 levels, which is an important threshold given the loss of China earnings over this time period. The tone of management’s presentation signalled the worst of the company’s challenges are behind it and there are many layers to growth. We agree and were encouraged by the improvement in gross profit margins for FY22, particularly in the second-half.

We expect a strong year of earnings growth for Australian supermarkets in FY23e. Higher food inflation is boosting sales and gross margins are also rising. We lift our FY23e EPS forecast for the major chains. Woolworths has the strongest sales growth, followed by Metcash, then Coles based on our feedback. In the full report, we address the cycle of price inflation and outlook over the next 12 months; and the outlook for Coles and Woolworths gross profit margins and EBIT margins.

We initiate coverage on JB Hi-Fi. In our research report, we assess the sustainable earnings base. JB Hi-Fi has won market share, which has supported operating leverage. The majority of the gross margin gains in The Good Guys are likely to stick given both an improved sales mix and better bargaining with suppliers. The company also has a net cash position providing it with opportunities for growth or capital management.