Market Share Trends
Q: How are strategic changes impacting Best Buy's market share?
A: Corie Barry stated that despite strategic pivots intended to bolster their market position and meet changing consumer expectations, Best Buy has largely held market share in key categories since the pandemic. For categories representing about 70% of revenue, they held share in Q4 and the full year. The changes focus on owning the home and CE experience end-to-end for consumers. -

Sales Outlook and Housing Market
Q: What role does housing play in your sales outlook improvement?
A: Corie Barry acknowledged that while housing doesn't perfectly correlate with their business, areas like appliances and televisions are highly correlated. At the high end of their guidance (flat comp for the year), they assume some macro pressures start to abate, including inflation pulling back and seeing "green shoots" in the housing market. They anticipate gradual improvement that may buoy parts of the business. -

Operating Margin Leverage
Q: How should we model sales growth versus operating margin leverage?
A: Matthew Bilunas expects that as the industry grows in future years, Best Buy will grow sales and expand operating profit rate accordingly. The company aims to leverage SG&A through cost control and efficiency initiatives. While not providing specific rate improvements per comp point, they anticipate that growing sales by a few percentage points will allow for rate expansion. -

Membership and Services Growth
Q: Can you update us on membership numbers and services revenue?
A: Best Buy now has 7 million members, up from 5.8 million at the start of the year, with a 35% increase in paid member sign-ups in Q4 compared to last year. The introduction of My Best Buy Plus has driven growth. Paid members interact with the brand more frequently and are shifting their share of wallet to Best Buy. Services revenue grew 6% in Q4, driven by increased revenue from installation services after changes to the membership program. -

Online Sales and Store Footprint
Q: How is online growth affecting consumer behavior and store plans?
A: Online penetration has stabilized after pandemic highs and is expected to continue increasing at a normalized pace. 44% of online sales are still picked up in-store, consistent year-over-year. Best Buy sees an important interplay between digital and physical channels and is methodically evolving its store footprint, focusing on enhancing the in-store shopping experience while considering the right long-term portfolio. -

Advertising Expense Increase
Q: Why is marketing expense increasing by $50 million this year?
A: Matthew Bilunas explained that the $50 million increase in advertising expense is due to a brand relaunch in the back half of the year, inflation in marketing costs from events like the Olympics and presidential election, and efforts to ensure proper marketing spend in key categories. Corie Barry added that their Best Buy Ads business is growing, leveraging customer data to deliver value to vendor partners through personalized advertising and partnerships with platforms like Amazon Fire TV and Roku. -

AI Products and Innovation
Q: What is the outlook for AI products in consumer electronics?
A: Corie Barry noted increasing excitement around AI's impact on consumer electronics, highlighted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. She anticipates that in the coming year, AI will make tools easier and more seamless, and will make CE products more human and interactive. While not expecting a revolution overnight, she sees a vibrant innovation horizon for AI technology enhancing products' integration into users' lives. -

Comp Performance Drivers
Q: How do you segment comp decline between macro pressures and pandemic pull-forward?
A: Corie Barry mentioned early indicators of entering a replacement cycle, such as laptop units returning to growth in Q4 and continuing into Q1. While there's not massive innovation currently driving purchases, more is expected as the year progresses. The overhang is due to macro factors that continue to weigh on the industry and haven't abated as quickly as expected. -

Traffic vs. Ticket in Comp Guidance
Q: How should we think about traffic versus ticket in your comp range guidance?
A: Matthew Bilunas observed that average selling prices were pressured early last year but stabilized in Q3 and Q4, with ASPs up compared to last year. For next year, they aim for ASP stabilization and unit growth, stimulating units through promotions. Performance may vary by category, with some quarters seeing ASP pressure and others driven by units, similar to last year. -

Credit Card Usage Trends
Q: Have you seen any changes in credit card usage patterns?
A: Matthew Bilunas reported no significant changes in credit card usage. Approximately 25% of sales are transacted on their card, consistent over the past five years. Card use for external purchases has been growing, indicating continued engagement with the credit program. -