By Staff
Friday, May 17, 2024 12:24 AM
BENTONVILLE, Ark.—
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has announced first quarter financial results for the three months ending on April 30, 2024, showcasing strong growth in revenue and operating income. The results shared by the omnichannel, global retailer are for Q1 of its 2025 fiscal year, which runs for 12 months ending January 31, 2025. Specific highlights for the first quarter include consolidated revenue of $161.5 billion, up 6.0 percent, or 5.8 percent constant currency versus the same period last year; reported operating income up $0.6 billion (9.6 percent) and adjusted operating income up 13.7 percent, attributed to higher gross margins and growth in membership income; and growth in global e-commerce sales by 21 percent, led by store-fulfilled pickup/delivery and marketplace.
By Staff
Friday, May 17, 2024 12:21 AM
OBERKOCHEN, Germany—The
Zeiss Group (CZMWY) has reported the results of the first half of fiscal year 2023/24. The group generated revenue totaling €5.304 million for the period ended March 31, 2024, which is an increase of 10 percent compared with the comparable period the previous year. All four Zeiss segments contributed to the company's growth, Zeiss noted. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) totaled €739 million, compared with €-178 million in the prior-year period. Expenditures on research and development remained at 15 percent of revenue, according to the company.
By Staff
Friday, May 17, 2024 12:18 AM
CHICAGO—
Prevent Blindness, a nonprofit eye health and safety organization, said it is strongly urging the House and Senate to quickly pass the
Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act to improve eyecare access, eye disease diagnosis and treatment for children aged 2-17 years. The legislation, which has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, seeks to establish grants for states and communities to improve children’s vision and eye health through coordinated systems of care, according to an announcement from Prevent Blindness.
By Staff
Friday, May 17, 2024 12:15 AM
CINCINNATI—
Super Optical has announced that it is forming a national network of sales representatives to help increase awareness of its FastGrind Lens Surfacing System and other core products. The move is in response to a recent survey of existing FastGrind customers, which revealed that the leading reason FastGrind was not adopted by the practice sooner was because they were not aware of the technology benefits or savings potential, Super Optical said. “To date Super Optical has handled FastGrind sales completely internally, which has brought FastGrind to nearly 60 countries worldwide," CEO/owner Andy Hawes explained.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 2:28 PM
On Monday, May 6, at the 2024 Mercuriades Award gala ceremony, presented by the FCCQ (Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec), IRIS received the “Investissement Québec Productivity Enhancement” award. This recognition crowns IRIS’ ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence, notably in integrating EMR (electronic medical record) and AI (artificial intelligence) within its clinics.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 1:44 PM
A new
Global Port Tracker report predicts an increase in inbound cargo volume in the U.S. The report, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, shows that monthly inbound cargo should climb above 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) through this summer and into the early fall.
In March, U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.93 million TEU, the equivalent of one 20-foot container or its equivalent, down 1.4 percent from February, but up 18.7 percent from March 2023, following a reduction in Asian exports due to the Lunar New Year shutdowns.
Global Port Tracker projects April will see 1.96 million TEU in inbound cargo, up 10 percent year-over-year. May is forecast to see 2.06 million TEU, up 6.8 percent year-over-year, to tie last October for the highest level since 2.26 million TEU in August 2022.
Meanwhile, June is forecast to see 2.03 million TEU in inbound cargo, up 10.7 percent from the same month last year. July is predicted to slip slightly to 2.02 million TEU, up 5.5 percent, while August will see a slight increase to 2.1 million TEU, up 7.1 percent. September is expected to reach 2.04 million TEU, up 0.5 percent.
Monthly volume has reached the 2 million TEU mark only twice since a 19-month streak that ended in October 2022.
The first half of 2024 is expected to total 11.9 million TEU, up 13 percent from the same period last year. Imports during 2023 totaled 22.3 million TEU, down 12.8 percent from 2022.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:52 AM
According to a
new report from the CDC and reported in
WebMD, drowning deaths have increased in the past few years, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Head over to
WebMD for more on the report and some important facts about water safety.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:15 AM
TOKYO—Hoya Corporation (7741:Tokyo) has announced consolidated revenue of 196.8 million yen for the fourth quarter ending March 31, 2024, up 6 percent from year-ago, and down 1 percent on a constant currency basis. Pretax profit rose to 72.1 million yen, a 34 percent increase versus year-ago, up 27 percent with the constant currency effect. Operating profit slipped 1 percent to 53 million yen compared to the prior-year period, a decrease of 5 percent in constant currency, according to Hoya.
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By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:05 AM
A successful optometric practice depends not only on clinical expertise and innovation but also every member of the care team—from front desk staff and opticians to technicians and optometrists. A top-flight staff ensures positive patient experiences and drives sustainable growth. However, finding and retaining quality individuals presents unique challenges. In this article, we delve into the strategies and best practices essential for cultivating an outstanding optometric team. From the initial recruitment process to ongoing growth and retention efforts, seasoned optometrists offer advice on the intricacies of building a strong workforce.
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By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:00 AM
Consumer spending continues to drive economic growth and retail sales increases, though we see some moderation in spending as consumers continually search for value.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:25 AM
The team at
The Eye Shop in Queen Creek, Ariz., reminded parents that early summer is a great time to schedule their kids’ annual eye exams.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—May is Small Business Month, an important marker for many independent ECPs who juggle life as both doctors and small business owners. While celebrating yourself and supporting other small business owners this May, it’s also a great moment to reflect on your business, where you’ve been, how far you’ve come and what your next steps might look like. In celebration of Small Business Month, the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce put together a list of 11 critical areas for business development, including a number of action items to help business owners get started.