Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac shares tumble after conservatorship comments
On Friday, Telsey Advisory Group adjusted its outlook on Macy’s (NYSE:M) shares, reducing the price target to $15 from the previous $17 while maintaining a Market Perform rating. The adjustment comes after Macy’s reported fourth-quarter earnings per share that surpassed expectations, thanks to well-managed selling, general, and administrative expenses (SG&A), which balanced a slightly weaker gross margin. Macy’s sales met the forecasts set by the company’s mid-January pre-announcement.
Macy’s, along with its Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury stores, saw positive comparable store sales during the quarter, continuing the momentum from previous quarters. This performance was bolstered by strong sales in luxury and beauty segments. Despite these positive indicators, the company’s forecast for the fiscal year 2025 was less optimistic than previous consensus estimates. Macy’s anticipates comparable store sales to be flat or possibly negative, even with efforts to adjust merchandising, renovate stores, and expand offerings through licensed and marketplace channels. InvestingPro analysis reveals the company maintains strong financial health with a current ratio of 1.43, though revenue declined 3.6% in the last twelve months. For deeper insights into Macy’s financial health and growth prospects, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available exclusively to InvestingPro subscribers.
The company’s "Bold New Chapter" strategy, as outlined by CEO Tony Spring, includes plans to close 150 Macy’s stores, expand luxury stores by 20%, and capitalize on asset monetization efforts estimated to yield $600 million to $750 million over the next three years. The strategy aims to reinvest in high-potential locations and enhance the omni-channel shopping experience. Telsey views this approach as reasonable considering the varying performance across Macy’s store portfolio. However, the fiscal year 2025 projections indicate ongoing macroeconomic challenges. Notably, InvestingPro data shows Macy’s offers a substantial 5.52% dividend yield, having maintained dividend payments for 23 consecutive years, demonstrating commitment to shareholder returns despite market challenges.
Telsey further noted that reducing Macy’s store base to a more manageable and profitable size is a wise decision, given the structural shifts in consumer traffic. Nevertheless, given the current macroeconomic pressures, the near-term outlook for sales and profitability growth is difficult, with Macy’s operating in a competitive promotional environment and facing traffic headwinds.
In light of these factors, Telsey has revised its price target to $15, based on a 6.7x multiple of their two-year forward earnings per share estimate of $2.25. This multiple is slightly above the one-year near-term average of 6.5x. Despite the changes in projections and challenges ahead, Telsey reaffirms its Market Perform rating on Macy’s shares.
In other recent news, Macy’s reported its fourth-quarter earnings for 2025, surpassing earnings per share (EPS) expectations with a reported EPS of $1.80, exceeding the forecasted $1.54. However, the company’s revenue slightly missed expectations, coming in at $7.77 billion against a forecast of $7.78 billion. Analysts have adjusted their ratings and targets for Macy’s stock in light of these results and broader market challenges. JPMorgan downgraded Macy’s stock from Overweight to Neutral, reducing the price target from $19.00 to $14.00, citing mixed performance despite the EPS beat. Similarly, Citi analyst Paul Lejuez revised the stock target to $14.00 from $16.00, maintaining a Neutral rating due to a slowdown in comparable sales and ongoing challenges in the retail sector. CFRA also adjusted its price target to $13.00 from $15.00 while holding a Neutral stance, reflecting anticipated long-term challenges in the department store sector. Despite these adjustments, Macy’s management remains focused on strategic initiatives, including closing underperforming stores and enhancing top-performing locations, as part of their ongoing efforts to navigate the current retail environment.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.