Here’s why Macy’s isn’t splitting its online business from its stores

Macy’s isn’t breaking up after all.

On Tuesday, the department store chain affirmed that it will forge ahead as one retailer, despite pressure from activist Jana Partners to split into two entities.

During a call with analysts, Macy’s Chief Executive Jeff Gennette explained that the department store chain had been working closely with advisors to consider a number of scenarios, including Macy’s separating its website from its stores. The conclusion of the review process, he said, was that Macy’s is already on the right track with its turnaround plans and will accelerate those plans even more so in the coming months.

Importantly, Macy’s decision could also have implications for retailers such as Kohl’s, Nordstrom and Dillard’s, which have all been facing similar pressure to break up. Analysts say the appeal of an e-commerce spinoff, similar to what Saks Fifth Avenue did early last year, is waning fast as shoppers head back to stores and online-only entities incur heftier expenses to acquire customers and to handle shipping and returns.

Gennette gave four key reasons as to why Macy’s decided not to spin off its e-commerce arm. One is that Macy’s isn’t currently constrained for capital to invest in its business. Second is that a breakup would come with high separation costs, he said. Third is that running two separate businesses would come with heightened ongoing expenses. And lastly, according to Gennette, is the risk that a breakup could deter customers from shopping the Macy’s brand.

“In every alternative scenario we considered, the execution risk for the business and our customers was too high,” the CEO said. “We determined that Macy’s has a stronger future as a fully integrated business … with Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s together with a broad range of brands, price points and customers across digital and stores.”

Macy’s Chief Financial Officer Adrian Mitchell echoed this sentiment on the earnings conference call and said that Macy’s long-term strategy is durable. “It’s important to acknowledge that today we’re in just a much different competitive position than we were even just two years ago,” he said.

In turn, Macy’s says it will ramp up plans to open additional small-format stores and create more of its own private labels. It also has been working on a digital marketplace that’s expected to debut later this year.

Jefferies analyst Stephanie Wissink said it isn’t a big surprise that Macy’s rejected the idea of splitting online from stores. Activist heat has cooled off in recent months, she said, and the risks of a breakup was too high for Macy’s.

Jana had slashed its holdings in Macy’s by 84% in the last months of 2021, according to a regulatory filing, following its push in October for the retailer to break up.

A representative for Jana Partners didn’t immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

GlobalData Retail Managing Director Neil Saunders added…