TJX (TJX.US) annual revenue exceeds $60 billion for the first time, discount trend on the rise.

Not long ago, the leading discount retailer TJX, based in the US, just released a report that caught the attention of the entire industry. According to their latest financial report, their net sales for the 2026 fiscal year reached $60.4 billion, breaking the $60 billion mark for the first time, with a net profit of $5.49 billion, an increase of nearly 13% compared to the previous year. In February of this year, the company also announced a 13% increase in quarterly dividends, as well as a substantial stock buyback program worth billions of dollars. Despite the overall turmoil in the consumer market, this giant, which owns discount chains like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, is flourishing. Its CEO stated that the flexibility and resilience of the discount retail model are core advantages that have allowed them to continue thriving through different market cycles. TJX's rapid expansion overseas is just a glimpse of the global discount trend. In the past two years, this seemingly 'bargain-hunting' atmosphere has also been rapidly spreading in China. Data shows that by 2025, the size of China's hard discount retail market had reached 2.28 trillion yuan, with a compounded annual growth rate of 11%. However, even with such rapid growth, the penetration rate of China's hard discount market is currently only 8%, far lower than Germany's 42% and Japan's 31%. This means that for a long time to come, this broad and highly competitive track will continue to be a battleground for giants to compete on. In terms of offline experiences, the most tangible observation is that outlets are becoming increasingly crowded. In 2025, national outlet sales exceeded 260 billion yuan, with a 19% and 22.4% increase in sales and foot traffic, respectively, in the first quarter of 2026. From the Bailian project in Qingpu, Shanghai, to the Shanshan Outlets in Zhengzhou, these big-name discount centers, which were once quiet, are now crowded with people on weekends. Consumers leisurely browse and buy discounted outdoor equipment and classic windbreakers, replacing the simple check-ins and shopping information sharing on social media from the previous years, becoming a new symbol of savvy consumerism. At the same time, there is also a trend of rising popularity for Vipshop Holdings Ltd Sponsored ADR (VIPS.US), known as the "online outlet" in this discount trend. The latest quarterly data showed a gross merchandise volume (GMV) of 56.9 billion yuan, an 8.6% year-on-year increase, with over 50% of active SVIP online spending contributed by consumers. Amidst the market's price competition, stable brand supply and reliable discounts have become the strongest fortress for Vipshop Holdings Ltd Sponsored ADR to retain repeat customers without having to worry too much about it being undermined. In the end, whether it's the foreign company TJX or the continued popularity of the discount retail format in China, they all point to the same truth: consumerism has never downgraded. It has simply completed its essential return from "paying for the brand" to "voting with the best value."