Best Buy’s 2Q online sales surge but challenges remain

Best Buy Co. reported that online sales more than tripled in the fiscal second quarter, as shoppers bought computers, tablets and large appliances to help them cook, work and learn from home during the pandemic

NEW YORK — Best Buy Co. reported that online sales more than tripled in the fiscal second quarter, as shoppers bought computers, tablets and large appliances to help them cook, work and learn from home during the pandemic.

Overall, the nation’s largest consumer electronics chain, based in Richfield, Minnesota, reported profits that beat analysts’ expectations and overall sales rose 4% in the quarter ended Aug. 3. The strong numbers, announced Tuesday, follow standout performances from other big box stores like Target and Walmart, both of which have seen explosive growth in curbside pickup and other online services.

Best Buy said that sales growth was tracking 20% during the first three weeks of the current quarter compared to a year ago, but warned it will see a slowdown amid an uncertain environment. Shares fell on the news.

“We are still operating in a dynamic environment, and much uncertainty remains around future outbreaks, government stimulus efforts and the economic impact of sustained high unemployment levels and ongoing shutdowns that vary by industry,” Best Buy CEO Corie Barry told analysts during the call.

She and other executives also noted that Best Buy is still keeping up with surging demand for certain products, which is also constraining sales growth.

Barry said the federal stimulus money buoyed — at the very least — confidence if not discrete purchases during the fiscal first quarter and that continued through the second quarter. But she said it’s hard to figure how much people are buying out of necessity.

“A lack of stimulus may only underscore the heightened levels of unemployment and lack of confidence,” Barry said. “It’s hard to say how long the overhang of the last stimulus hangs on until hopefully the new stimulus is agreed upon. Everyone is watching and waiting.”

When the U.S. went into lock-down in mid-March, Best Buy closed its stores to shoppers and pivoted most of its outlets to curbside pick. The next month, it allowed shoppers to shop at 200 of its stores by appointment only. In mid-June, it began to allow customers to freely shop without an appointment at more than 800 U.S. stores and then expanded that number. As of late June, about half of its 51,000 workers had returned to work. Now, that figure is about two-thirds, the company said.

The company reported earnings of $432 million, or $1.65 per share, in the quarter. That compares with $238 million, or 89 cents per share.

Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs, came to $1.71 per share.

The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.09 per share.

The consumer electronics retailer posted revenue of $9.91 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Eight analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $9.84 billion. That compares with $9.54 billion.

Same-store sales rose 5.8% during the quarter, compared with 1.6% in the year-ago period. Online sales surged 242%, compared with 17.3% in the year-ago period. Online revenue accounted for 53.1% of total U.S. revenue in the quarter, compared with 16% a year ago. Best Buy said that 60% of its sales are fulfilled through the store whether that’s through services like curbside pickup or shipped from the store.

Best Buy shares have climbed 34% since the beginning of the year, while the &P 500 index has climbed 6%. The stock has risen 71% in the last 12 months.

Shares fell nearly 5%, or $5.46, to $111.91 in late morning trading.

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Elements of this story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BBY at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BBY