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Whole Foods at Mid-Year3 Things You Need to Know

1) Earnings Disappointments

Wall Street has not reacted kindly to Whole Foods earnings reports

1) Earnings DisappointmentsAfter years of same-store-sales growth above 6%, Whole Foods reported that the metric fell to 5.9% during the fourth quarter of 2013, and 4.5% at the beginning of this year.Additionally, earnings came in below analyst expectations for both quarters.Management made clear that competition was being felt in slower sales, and that the company would be lowering prices to compete on costs with others entering the organic field.

2) Ramping Up Store Openings

2) Ramping Up Store Openings

Earlier this year, co-CEOs Walter Robb and John Mackey announced that they believed the U.S. could support 1,200 Whole Foods locations, up 20% from previous estimates. Currently, there are 374 locations.During the first quarter earnings release, management laid out the blueprint for further expansion.In 2014, open 37 locations, bringing count to 398.In 2015, open 42 locations, bringing count to 436.In 2016, open 46 locations, bringing count to 478.In 2017, open 50 locations, bringing count to 524.In 2018, open 55 locations, bringing count to 575.

3) What to Watch

Can management deliver on growth and same-store-sales estimates?

3) What to WatchStore Build-OutWhole Foods has its work cut out to meet these lofty goals.When the company reports earnings, check to make sure it still believes there will be 398 locations by the end of fiscal 2014.

Same-Store SalesIn order to meet expectations, Whole Foods needs to show growth in this metric of roughly 5.4%.Anything above 5.5% would be a huge positive.

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