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| Walmart Says It’s Not Lowering Forecast Because of Coronavirus | Walmart Says It’s Not Lowering Forecast Because of Coronavirus |
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| Walmart said on Tuesday that while it continued to monitor the coronavirus outbreak in China and around the world, the company was not lowering its sales forecast for this year. | Walmart said on Tuesday that while it continued to monitor the coronavirus outbreak in China and around the world, the company was not lowering its sales forecast for this year. |
| The world’s largest retailer released the announcement with its fourth-quarter earnings, one day after Apple warned of a slowdown. Apple had said its supply of iPhones was hampered because the factories in China where they are made were not resuming production as quickly as expected. Apple also said demand for its smartphones in China had been hurt because the virus outbreak had forced the company to close all 42 of its stores. | The world’s largest retailer released the announcement with its fourth-quarter earnings, one day after Apple warned of a slowdown. Apple had said its supply of iPhones was hampered because the factories in China where they are made were not resuming production as quickly as expected. Apple also said demand for its smartphones in China had been hurt because the virus outbreak had forced the company to close all 42 of its stores. |
| At an investor conference on Tuesday morning in New York, Walmart executives said sales at the company’s 430 stores in China had not faltered, even during the quarantine, as customers turned to the retailer to buy food and necessities. Walmart is also invested in a grocery delivery venture in China that has continued to make home deliveries during the outbreak. | At an investor conference on Tuesday morning in New York, Walmart executives said sales at the company’s 430 stores in China had not faltered, even during the quarantine, as customers turned to the retailer to buy food and necessities. Walmart is also invested in a grocery delivery venture in China that has continued to make home deliveries during the outbreak. |
| Still, the company’s chief financial officer, Brett Biggs, cautioned that the coronavirus situation was still too “fluid” to make any definitive pronouncements about how it could play out for Walmart. Mr. Biggs said it was possible that the fallout from the virus could have a “couple of cents negative impact” on earnings per share in the coming quarters. | Still, the company’s chief financial officer, Brett Biggs, cautioned that the coronavirus situation was still too “fluid” to make any definitive pronouncements about how it could play out for Walmart. Mr. Biggs said it was possible that the fallout from the virus could have a “couple of cents negative impact” on earnings per share in the coming quarters. |
| The virus’s impact on Walmart’s supply chain is also uncertain, but the retailer’s executives suggested that the effect could be more muted than at other companies. | The virus’s impact on Walmart’s supply chain is also uncertain, but the retailer’s executives suggested that the effect could be more muted than at other companies. |
| If the coronavirus continues to idle factories over the next few months, Walmart said there could be some “impact on shipping.” But Walmart also stressed that two-thirds of the products it sells — which now consist primarily of food — are sourced from the United States. The other third comes from countries like China, other parts of Asia and Mexico. | If the coronavirus continues to idle factories over the next few months, Walmart said there could be some “impact on shipping.” But Walmart also stressed that two-thirds of the products it sells — which now consist primarily of food — are sourced from the United States. The other third comes from countries like China, other parts of Asia and Mexico. |
| Walmart declined to specify how many of its goods were made in China, but Wells Fargo analysts recently estimated that 15 percent of its merchandise came from that country. Other retailers, like Target and Best Buy, have much higher exposure to Chinese manufacturing. | Walmart declined to specify how many of its goods were made in China, but Wells Fargo analysts recently estimated that 15 percent of its merchandise came from that country. Other retailers, like Target and Best Buy, have much higher exposure to Chinese manufacturing. |
| Walmart was one of the first American companies to source its merchandise in China. But as the Chinese economy has evolved, the cost of manufacturing there has increased, prompting companies like Walmart to source their goods in less costly countries. | Walmart was one of the first American companies to source its merchandise in China. But as the Chinese economy has evolved, the cost of manufacturing there has increased, prompting companies like Walmart to source their goods in less costly countries. |
| China’s importance is its consumers. Walmart opened its first store there in 1996. Although its network of stores in China is not as large as its footprint in other markets, Walmart has made big investments in online shopping in the country. | China’s importance is its consumers. Walmart opened its first store there in 1996. Although its network of stores in China is not as large as its footprint in other markets, Walmart has made big investments in online shopping in the country. |
| Walmart owns a minority stake in JD.com, one of China’s leading e-commerce players. The two companies recently invested together in a grocery delivery start-up. Walmart said on Tuesday that its assumptions of the value of its equity stake in JD had not changed. | Walmart owns a minority stake in JD.com, one of China’s leading e-commerce players. The two companies recently invested together in a grocery delivery start-up. Walmart said on Tuesday that its assumptions of the value of its equity stake in JD had not changed. |
| Analysts who gathered for Walmart’s investors’ day in New York seemed to shrug off concerns about China, focusing instead on the company’s lackluster results in the fourth quarter. | Analysts who gathered for Walmart’s investors’ day in New York seemed to shrug off concerns about China, focusing instead on the company’s lackluster results in the fourth quarter. |
| Walmart said its holiday sales were “a little softer than expected,” leading to a rare miss of its revenue and sales targets in its most recent quarter. | Walmart said its holiday sales were “a little softer than expected,” leading to a rare miss of its revenue and sales targets in its most recent quarter. |
| Updated July 7, 2020 | |
| The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization. | |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| The retailer said its same-store sales in the United States grew 1.9 percent during the quarter, which ended Jan. 31. That was lower than the 2.3 percent that Wall Street analysts had expected. The company’s adjusted earnings per share of $1.38 were less than the $1.43 it had forecast, while revenue was $141.7 billion, slightly less than Wall Street’s expectation of $142.5 billion. | The retailer said its same-store sales in the United States grew 1.9 percent during the quarter, which ended Jan. 31. That was lower than the 2.3 percent that Wall Street analysts had expected. The company’s adjusted earnings per share of $1.38 were less than the $1.43 it had forecast, while revenue was $141.7 billion, slightly less than Wall Street’s expectation of $142.5 billion. |
| The company blamed its disappointing results on political turmoil in Chile, as well as “softness” in a few general merchandise categories in its United States stores. | The company blamed its disappointing results on political turmoil in Chile, as well as “softness” in a few general merchandise categories in its United States stores. |
| “Sales leading up to Christmas in our U.S. stores were a little softer than expected,” Doug McMillon, chief executive of Walmart, said in a statement. | “Sales leading up to Christmas in our U.S. stores were a little softer than expected,” Doug McMillon, chief executive of Walmart, said in a statement. |
| The one bright spot in the quarter was record sales growth in e-commerce of 35 percent. The company’s shares were up 1.5 percent at the close of trading on Tuesday. | The one bright spot in the quarter was record sales growth in e-commerce of 35 percent. The company’s shares were up 1.5 percent at the close of trading on Tuesday. |