21 May 2024 – The Fund Society

US stocks hit record high as volatility hovers near pre-pandemic low

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Which Retailers Operate in the Most Countries?

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May 21, 2024 Graphics/Design:

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

The Top Retailers Operating in the Most Countries

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Today, international expansion is a key growth strategy for the world’s top retailers as companies target untapped markets with the highest potential to drive revenue and profit streams.

While traditional retailers have sought out digital strategies as the industry evolves and consumer behaviors change, physical storefronts continue to be a dominant driver of retail sales. In 2023, brick-and-mortar sales comprised 81% of retail sales globally.

This graphic shows the top retailers operating in the most markets worldwide, based on data from the National Retail Federation.

Global Retailers With the Largest International Footprint

Here are the global retailers with the widest-reaching presence around the world in 2023:

RankingRetailerNumber of Countries of First-Party OperationHeadquarters 1H&M68🇸🇪 Sweden 2IKEA51🇳🇱 Netherlands 3Inditex45🇪🇸 Spain 4Decathlon34🇫🇷 France 5Carrefour32🇫🇷 France 6Sephora (LVMH)31🇫🇷 France 7Schwarz Group30🇩🇪 Germany 8Fast Retailing27🇯🇵 Japan 9Euronics International25🇳🇱 Netherlands 10Apple25🇺🇸 U.S.

Notably, eight of the top 10 companies with the widest market reach hail from Europe.

Fast-fashion giant H&M ranks first overall, with 4,454 stores across 68 countries last year. In 2023, the Swedish company earned $21.6 billion in revenues, with its largest markets by number of store locations being the U.S., Germany, and the UK. This year, it plans to open 100 new stores in growth markets, along with shutting down 160 stores in established locations, ultimately decreasing its global store count.

In second is IKEA, with a presence in 51 countries. Last year, the company expanded its footprint in India, launching its first store in the tech hub, Hyderabad. While the company has a broad international reach, its number of storefronts is a fraction of H&M, at 477 total stores worldwide.

Looking beyond the continent, Japan’s Fast Retailing is the top retailer in Asia, operating in 27 countries globally. As the parent company to fashion brand Uniqlo, it also stands as the seventh most valuable listed firm

Getting and Optimizing Leverage in Private Equity

Discover the advantages of a relationship bank providing leverage on both fund and portfolio level, optimizing your investments for maximum returns. Read more in our latest article, where @Petr Polach, Co-Head of Group Structured Finance & Investment Banking at Raiffeisen Bank International AG dives deeper into the strategies and benefits of leverage in private equity.

Getting and optimizing leverage in private equity
Private equity in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region presents unique challenges and opportunities. However, currently deal flow for alternative investment funds remains challenging due to different pricing expectations between buyers and sellers as well as geopolitical factors which also play a significant role. “In such an environment, optimizing leverage becomes crucial for private equity players and that’s where we as a bank being present in 12 CEE markets can step in,” says Petr Polach, Co-Head of Group Structured Finance & Investment Banking at Raiffeisen Bank International AG.

Navigating Fund Level Leverage
At the fund level, alternative investment funds in CEE face “traditionally” fundraising challenges since e.g. US investors expect a higher return on their investment compared to developed markets. To counter this, Net Asset Value (NAV) facilities emerge as an intriguing option. Although common in Western countries, they are not widely utilized in CEE. Recognizing this gap, Raiffeisen Bank International offers tailored support for CEE markets, providing NAV financing ranging from EUR 10 million to EUR 75 million, catering to the smaller fund volumes typical for CEE countries and aligning with the region’s dynamics.
Despite challenges when it comes to securities for NAV facilities such as lower asset diversification and granularity compared to Western European funds, NAV facilities offer several advantages for the fund itself. They enhance Internal Rate of Return, provide funding certainty in competitive situations, or cater for additional investments.

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Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Urban Outfitters, Viasat, Toll Brothers and more

South West Water owner under fire for unveiling dividend after parasitic outbreak

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Visualized: A Decade of Clean Energy Investment

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May 21, 2024 Graphics & Design Visualized: A Decade of Clean Energy Investment

Global energy investment is growing every year. But recently, investments in clean energy have been significantly outpacing investments in fossil fuels.

For this graphic, we partnered with EnergyX to explore how global energy investment has changed and learn how investments in clean energy are starting to pay off for their investors.

The Rise of Sustainable Energy Investment

Propelled by various climate initiatives such as the Paris Agreement and the widespread adoption of EVs, global investment in sustainable energy surged to over $1.7 trillion in 2023, the highest ever, and the IEA projects that this growth could continue:

Energy Product20202021202220232030F Clean Electrification$0.97T$1.05$1.21T$1.34T$1.65T Low-Emission Fuels$0.01T$0.01$0.01T$0.02T$0.05T Energy Efficiency$0.28T$0.35$0.39T$0.38T$0.49T Clean Energy Total$1.26T$1.41T$1.61T$1.74T$2.19T Natural Gas$0.26T$0.27T$0.31T$0.32T$0.35T Oil$0.42T$0.48T$0.52T$0.55T$0.60T Coal$0.16T$0.16T$0.18T$0.18T$0.11T Fossil Fuel Total$0.84T$0.91T$1.01T$1.05T$1.06T Total Energy Investment$2.10T$2.32T$2.62T$2.79T$3.25T

Between 2020 and 2030, global investment in sustainable energy could increase by 74% to nearly $2.2 trillion, compared to just 26% additional investment in fossil fuels, with a forecast total of $1.06 trillion. This shows that sustainability is the future of energy investment.

Sustainable Investor Success Stories

While the growing investments in clean energy show that the world embraces sustainability, energy investors will still look for decent returns. Now, in 2024, clean energy investments are beginning to bear fruit. Here are just a few examples:

Between 2019 and 2023, Tesla had a cumulative return of 1,073% NextEra Energy’s quarterly dividend increased by over 10% as of February 2024 Investors in EnergyX have 10x’ed their investments since the company’s first offering in 2021

Lithium plays a critical role in powering electric vehicles (EVs) and facilitating the transition to sustainable energy. EnergyX has patented technology that enhances lithium extraction rates by up to 300%, contributing to meeting the growing demand for lithium and fueling the EVs of the future.

Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Peloton, Lam Research, Lowe’s, AstraZeneca and more

Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Peloton — The stock plunged 14% following the connected fitness company’s announcement it will begin a “global refinancing” process that includes a convertible notes offering and a $1 billion five-year term loan. Peloton, which recently announced a restructuring plan , has struggled with falling sales. Lam Research — Shares added 2.1% after the semiconductor equipment maker said its board of directors approved a $10 billion share buyback and a 10-for-1 stock split. AstraZeneca — U.S.-listed shares rose 2.3% after the U.K.-based pharmaceutical company said it planned to boost its total revenue to $80 billion by 2030, a 75% increase from 2023. Macy’s — The department store’s shares dipped about 1% after the company reported its fiscal first-quarter earnings . Macy’s profit topped Wall Street’s expectations, while the retailer’s revenue came in roughly in line. CEO Tony Spring said the company is in the “early innings” of turning around its namesake stores after the company stepped up investments at 50 of its Macy’s shops. VinFast Auto — The electric vehicle maker tumbled 15% after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it will investigate a fatal crash that occurred in April involving a VinFast VF 8 EV. Lowe’s — The home improvement stock fell 2.9% despite the company posting a first-quarter earnings and revenue beat. Sales fell year over year, and CEO Marvin Ellison said on the earnings call that “the home improvement customer is still on the sideline.” Dell Technologies — Shares popped 2.8% after Citi increased its price target to $170, implying a 16.9% upside from Monday’s close. The bank is bullish on Dell’s opportunities in artificial intelligence. BlackLine — The software company shed almost 8% after announcing a plan to offer $500 million in convertible senior notes due in 2029. Toast — Shares fell more than 3% following a downgrade at Baird to neutral. The firm thinks the restaurant software firm may be overvalued after its 43% jump in 2024. Palo Alto Networks — The cybersecurity stock dropped 3% after issuing in-line guidance for the current quarter. Palo Alto Networks topped estimates for its fiscal third quarter but said it expects fourth-quarter billings to range between $3.43 billion and $3.48 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $3.45 billion in billings. Keysight Technologies — Shares plummeted 9% on

CNBC

Nippon Shareholders Demand Green Steel Plan

LGIM, Amundi and Nordea call for Japanese steel giant to set stricter targets and disclose its climate lobbying activities.

A group of investors has filed resolutions calling on Japanese steelmaker Nippon to overhaul its decarbonisation strategy, challenging the assumption that carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) can clean up this notoriously dirty industry. British asset manager Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) co-filed the resolutions with activist groups the…

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