The Affluent Shop, While the Strapped Do Not

NEW YORK (AP) - Third-quarter earnings reports from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Saks Fifth Avenue show the far different streets their customers are living on.

Wal-Mart's third-quarter sales in the U.S. got squeezed as its financially strapped customers dealt with dire economic straits. Saks' affluent clientele, encouraged by a rallying stock market, is starting to spend again, albeit cautiously, and is willing to shell out full price for designer labels more often.

"You have the Wal-Mart customers who are going to dollar stores toward the end of the month," said Wall Street Strategies analyst Brian Sozzi. "And on the other end, you have the Saks customers going out there spending more freely."

As profit reports from major retailers flow in, it's clear that lower- to middle-class consumers are unlikely to open their wallets wide this holiday season amid an unemployment rate that's stuck at almost 10 percent.

The wealthy are recovering faster, buoyed by a rising stock market. But their spending still isn't quite back to where it was before the Great Recession.

So companies are learning new ways to tighten expenses in a tepid environment. They're also looking abroad to bolster sales. That's generally resulting in solid profits for retailers so far.

"(Retailers) are doing a good job in generating profit growth," said Ken Perkins, president of RetailMetrics, a research firm. "It's tough sledding out there, on the domestic front. It's a zero-sum game. If you miss the boat, competitors are going to take your dollars."

Based on the 58 retailers that have reported results, total profits are up 11 percent so far compared with last year's third quarter; Perkins expects that to rise to 14 percent by the time earnings season is done, on top of the 7.8 percent increase last year.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a 9.3 percent increase in third-quarter net income as the world's largest retailer benefited from cost controls and a robust international business. The company also raised its full-year profit outlook.

The improvements came despite weakness at its U.S. business. Total revenue at U.S. Walmart stores fell as fewer customers visited and spent less when they did. Revenue at stores open at least a year also fell, for the sixth quarter in a row, underscoring the challenges its U.S. operations face as many customers struggle economically.

Shoppers "are focusing on necessities and being practical in how they're spending their money," said Tom Schoewe, Wal-Mart's chief financial officer, during a call with the media on Tuesday. Company executives say that its shoppers continue to have a hard time stretching their dollars to the next payday. So the company, armed with free shipping deals and low prices on mounds of underwear and socks, promised it will be the low price leader to grab its share of holiday dollars.

At Saks Inc., net income soared, as the luxury retailer sold more at full price, while overall revenue rose 4 percent. Business was helped by strong demand for jewelry, women's clothing and men's sportswear.

"With improvement in the financial markets ... we feel much better about the overall tone of business and the way our customers are responding to our initiatives," said Steve Sadove, Saks' chairman and CEO.

However, Saks says that part of the reason why it's seeing a dramatic increase in regular-price selling isn't because shoppers are spending mindlessly, but that the stores are starting to hold the line on prices and inventory and train customers not to wait for a big sale.

"As we have reduced the amount of inventory," Sadove said, "our associates are telling their customers, 'Hey, there's only two of these shoes in your size left,' or, 'We only have a couple of these bags, and, sure, if you want to wait until it goes to markdown, the chances are it might not be there, and so you ought to get it now,' "

Preppy teen clothing seller Abercrombie & Fitch Co. reported higher international revenue and improving results in the U.S. helped its third-quarter net income rise 29 percent.

But CEO Mike Jeffries said Abercrombie over the past year has "become much better at how we deliver 'fashion right' assortments with attractive price points."

Discount store operator TJX Cos. said its third-quarter profit rose 7 percent, slightly ahead of Wall Street's forecast, as lean inventories lifted results. Carol Meyrowitz, company president and CEO noted that it's selling items faster and holding them for a shorter time, which is reducing markdowns.