The company compensated partially for falling sales by the aforementioned cuts in expenses.
GAMESTOP POWER TO THE PEOPLE FREE
Still, with $74 million in negative free cash flow in the first nine months of the year, the GameStop turnaround remains a work in progress. This is how GameStop narrowed its losses. GameStop reported $5 million in impairments versus more than $375 million in the first nine months of 2019. While it can bring a tax write-off, it also reduces overall income. Accounting rules require the adjustment of some existing assets to their fair value. In the first nine months of 2020, the company only suffered modest goodwill and asset impairments. While the company's loss of $296 million improved from the $492 million loss in the first nine months of 2019, the 27% and 22% reductions in the cost of sales and sales, general, and administrative expenses respectively fell short of the sales reduction. Nonetheless, in the first nine months of 2020, overall net sales fell by nearly 31% over the last 12 months to just under $3 billion. In the Q3 2020 earnings call, management attributed the gains to their shift in strategy, adding that COVID-19 lowered comparable sales by three to five percentage points. E-commerce also experienced a 352% increase in November from year-ago levels. Yes, in the most recent earnings report, online sales rose by 257% year over year in the third quarter. Moreover, even with its new strategy, the company's financials still reflect the extent of GameStop's struggles. Also, it remains unclear whether customers will turn to GameStop for its new product categories. Now, game downloads leave little room for differentiation or trades. Physical games and other items to sell or trade gave gamers a reason to visit stores. However, while these moves may help the company to survive, they also leave GameStop with a narrow competitive moat. The company also increased fulfillment options to deliver the most comprehensive set of game options delivered in the fastest way possible. On the video gaming side of the business, this included a "digital-first" approach for game downloads. The company closed over 800 stores between the beginning of 2019 and the first nine months of 2020, quite a change for a company with over 5,000 locations. It also expanded product and category extensions such as comics and other types of collectibles to increase the size of its addressable market. In February alone, the company appointed a new chief technology officer, and the chief financial officer announced that he would resign in March.Īmid this turmoil, GameStop has moved much of its operations online and taken an omnichannel approach. These struggles have also affected GameStop's top management. With that change, GameStop lost much of its reason for being, sending the company's fortune and its stock plunging. That model made it a successful company until game makers began to sell their games via online downloads. It also made itself a hub where people could buy, sell, and trade games, consoles, and accessories, and find other merchandise. GameStop built a nationwide footprint by becoming a place to buy the latest video game releases. Given the company's business, its financials, and the speculative nature of the retail stock, investors should think twice about opening a position. However, this interest has also brought unprecedented volatility and massive price swings. With the stock having climbed as much as 25-fold in January, it has drawn the attention of numerous investors. GameStop ( GME 4.50%) has become one of the biggest investment surprises of early 2021.
0 kommentar(er)
