Seven & I Holdings lifted its profit and sales outlook for the current fiscal year, raising hopes that the convenience-store operator¡¯s turnaround efforts are taking hold.
Operating profit will be ?425 billion ($2.6 billion) for the year through February 2027, compared with the company¡¯s prior forecast for ?405 billion. Revenue will be ?10.4 trillion, higher than the prior outlook for ?9.5 trillion. The new forecasts comfortably exceed analysts¡¯ estimates according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Seven & I is seeking to recast itself as a focused global convenience-store operator after years of pressure over its sprawling retail portfolio. The key challenge for CEO Stephen Dacus is to turn last year¡¯s defensive restructuring into a convincing operating story. Japan¡¯s 7-Eleven stores are still getting help from higher spending per shopper, but traffic remains uneven, while the North American business shows softer merchandise momentum.
¡°The first quarter showed steady progress, driven by the disciplined execution of our strategy to transform the company,¡± Dacus said in a statement.
First-quarter operating profit more than doubled on an adjusted basis, helped by gains in Japan and improved fuel margins in North America.
The company has already divested noncore retail businesses in Japan, such as supermarkets and specialty stores, as part of efforts last year to fend off a takeover bid from Alimentation Couche-Tard. The Canadian operator of Circle K stores eventually abandoned its pursuit a year ago.
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