Macy’s Discovers $154 Million Accounting Fraud, Delays Earnings Report

Macy’s Uncovers $154 Million in Hidden Expenses, Delays Earnings Report

Macy’s has postponed the release of its quarterly earnings report after discovering that a former employee concealed $154 million in expenses over nearly three years. The company revealed that the employee, who is no longer with Macy’s, intentionally made false accounting entries to hide costs related to small package deliveries.

An independent forensic investigation was launched after the discrepancies were identified. Macy’s stated that the hidden expenses accounted for only a fraction of its $4.36 billion delivery costs over the affected period, but the severity of the issue warranted the delay. The company plans to release its earnings report on December 11.

No Broader Impact Found

Macy’s assured investors that the false entries did not affect its cash management or vendor payments. Thus far, the investigation has pointed solely to the former employee, with no evidence implicating others in the scheme.

Macy’s CEO, Tony Spring, emphasized the company’s commitment to ethical practices in a statement, saying, “While the investigation continues, we remain focused on serving our customers and executing a strong holiday season strategy.”

Financial Performance and Market Reaction

Following the announcement, Macy’s shares fell nearly 3% at the market open. The company also reported a 2.4% decline in quarterly sales, dropping to $4.7 billion. Macy’s attributed the decline to weaker performance in digital channels and cold-weather product categories, as much of the country experienced an unseasonably warm fall.

Retail analyst Neil Saunders from GlobalData Retail noted, “The drop in sales was expected, given the challenges in the middle-market segment and Macy’s struggles to stay competitive across its stores. It underscores the company’s overall decline.”

Efforts Toward Restructuring

In response to ongoing challenges, Macy’s is proceeding with plans to close hundreds of underperforming stores. Despite broader struggles, some divisions showed resilience: Bloomingdale’s reported a 1.4% sales increase, while the luxury beauty brand Bluemercury posted a 3.2% rise.

Earlier this year, Macy’s declined offers from private investors to acquire the company, opting instead to focus on its internal revitalization strategy.