Cowboys Add to Wide Receiver Depth with Signing of Deonte Thompson

A former StarMine Thomson Reuters No. 1 Earnings Estimator in the multi-line retail sector with CRT Sterne Agee, Chuck Grom joined Gordon Haskett Research Advisors as a managing director in February 2017. In addition to analyzing department store stocks, Chuck Grom is a passionate fan of the National Football League's (NFL) Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL free agency period opened in March and, while the Cowboys have yet to make a significant signing, the team signed six-year veteran Deonte Thompson to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Known for his speed, Thompson is expected to serve as a formidable threat for the Cowboys passing attack, a role that was filled last season by Brice Butler, who Dallas opted not to re-sign.

Though he wasn't drafted, Thompson signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 but was used sparingly. He recorded a combined 147 receiving yards in two seasons with the team before being released the following season. He had a career-best season in 2017 with a combined 555 receiving yards and two touchdowns split between the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears. He also averaged an impressive 14.6 yards per reception.

Wal-Mart Reacts to Tax Reform Through US Employee Wage Increase

A veteran Wall Street analyst, Chuck Grom leverages past experience with JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank as Gordon Haskett Research managing director. With extensive knowledge of consumer-facing retail segments, Chuck Grom’s firm recently provided insight within a Bloomberg article on Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.’s January 2018, announcement that it would increase its starting pay across the United States to $11 an hour.

This wage increase represents a 10 percent gain for employees of the largest retailer worldwide, which has global sales that generate nearly $500 billion annually. The total cost of the wage increase for Wal-Mart will be $300 million, not including one-time cash bonuses also planned. 

With Wal-Mart expected to generate $12 billion in net income in 2018 and achieving $57 million in hourly sales, this amount represents approximately nine days of profits. The wage increase is among the strategies undertaken, including buybacks and price cuts, to utilize the $2 billion in tax benefits realized under the new US tax system reforms. 

The cost of the wage increase, while substantial, is small relative to total operations. As a point of reference, the company’s US e-commerce chief Marc Lore received $244 million in 2016 as part of shares attached to his company Jet.com, which was purchased by Wal-Mart.