when analyzing like for like sales segments are typically grouped to show their percentage growth rates for a particular time period as in any financial analysis like for like data can be compared to the same quarter in a previous year the prior quarter or across several sequential quarters 
a company s quarterly financial reporting often includes the like for like metrics it considers significant to its business benefits of like for like salesretail companies use the like for like metric most often for their insight into existing stores versus newly opened stores if a retail company has a high like for like store sales growth rate and a high total revenue growth rate it can be seen as a sign that established stores are driving growth if a company has an average like for like store sales growth rate but a high total revenue growth rate it can be a sign that new stores or new products are drawing shoppers attention like for like sales metrics help companies know if a product or store is contributing to its bottom line and if it is experiencing desired growth it can also help companies decide whether opening a new location or expanding production is worthwhile also like for like sales can reveal if a new store is taking sales away from established locations which is known as cannibalization 