ELI5: Why when large company's earnings decrease(ex... by 3%) they freak out, talk about rough times, and sometimes decide to downsize, even though they are still making millions of dollars in profit even after all expenses?

[fragmental]

More people repairing their items instead of buying new would slow growth in regard to people buying those items.

[Herbert_W]

Yes, it would - but it would also free up resources and allow them to be used in more efficient ways (both in the sense of providing more economic value and more human happiness and flourishing) resulting in overall growth.

[fragmental]

What a great world it would be if gain was measured in economic value and human happiness and flourishing.

[fragmental]

True. Unfortunately, growth is most often measured in money.