Retailers Report Weak Same-Store Sales

Retailers Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD), Kohl's Corporation (NYSE:KSS), and J C Penney Company Inc (NYSE:JCP) reported earnings this morning, and all three issued comparable store figures that disappointed the Street. Below, we'll dig into the numbers moving shares of HD, KSS, and JCP.

For Dow component Home Depot, same-store sales growth for the period came in at 2.5%, well below the 4.2% analysts were expecting. On top of unfavorable weather conditions, the company blamed "significant deflation" in lumber prices for the poor results. Still, earnings per share of $2.27 was higher than the average estimate of $2.18, while revenue essentially matched expectations.

Just ahead of the open, HD shares are trading down 0.6% at $189.80. Another post-earnings pullback would mark the sixth straight for the security, which is currently testing its 200-day moving average and 10% year-to-date return level.

Switching gears, Kohl's saw same-store sales fall 3.4% in the quarter, and analysts were expecting just a 0.15% decline. Overall sales and earnings per share also missed, resulting in the company cutting its full-year outlook.

This has KSS stock down 10.6% before the open, meaning it'd open at an annual low of $56.30, apparently not yet benefiting from its expanded Amazon partnership. Meanwhile, near-term options traders are well-positioned for a pullback, since the Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 2.00 ranks in the 99th annual percentile -- showing an unusual put-skew.

Finally, JCP's long-term struggles are set to continue, down 7% just before the open at $1.07. Same-store sales and earnings both disappointed, and the company said additional tariffs on Chinese imports would be an additional headwind for its business. J C Penney was already down 56% year-over-year, and the most recent breakout attempt from March was swiftly rejected by the 200-day moving average.