The announcement of a $1.7 million cost related to exiting the Retail Distribution Operations is likely to be viewed negatively by investors, as it reflects both a significant expense and the closure of a business segment. However, the fact that the segment was operating at a loss could mitigate the negative impact, as the exit might be seen as a strategic move to cut losses and focus on more profitable areas. The short-term impact is likely negative due to the immediate financial implications, but the long-term outlook could be neutral to positive if the company reallocates resources effectively.