We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Boot Barn (BOOT - Free Report) was actually a healthy growing company coming into this pandemic-driven economic slowdown, but this natural disaster triggered a rude awakening for this working-class retailer. BOOT shares have plummeted roughly 57% for 2020 thus far, as investors price out this firm’s potential.
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The stock had driven up over 500% from Q4 of 2017 until January of this year as the company runway of growth kept extending, but unfortunately, it looks like the business may have overextended itself as the stock price. Analysts have been decreasing their EPS estimates in both the near and long-term, pushing BOOT into a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
The Pandemic’s Impact
Just to be entirely transparent off the bat, I am not recommending that you bet against shares of BOOT, I am merely saying these shares may still be in trouble, despite losing most of their value from January.
Boot Barn is retail that sells functional workwear to those in working-class jobs such as construction, manufacturing, oil & gas, electric/plumbing, and agriculture. These are the industries that are seeing some of the most significant employment cutbacks.
This enterprise has a considerable strategic presence in key oil regions around the US, and the massive hit that this industry has taken is going to ripple into Boot Barn’s financials.
Loss of employment and job uncertainty is going to hamper demand for Boot Barn products substantially. It will be years before these industries reach full employment again (if they ever do), and I suspect that this will strain demand for Boot Barn in the coming years.
Boot Barn had been aggressively expanding its western presence with an increasing number of big-box brick-and-mortar storefronts averaging 11,000 square feet. The company currently operates 264 stores in 33 states, representing a 50% storefront increase in the past 5 years. I think they may have overextended themselves. The overhead from its enormous storefronts may be Boot Barn’s undoing.
Financial Situation
The business’s paper-thin margins, combined with massive inventory levels, is quite concerning to me. Boot Barn will likely be forced to sell its products at a sizable discount to clear some of its inventory. This will weigh heavily on its already tight margins.
Boot Barn was able to keep its bottom-line above water in its March quarter, with its e-commerce segment being its life preserver. Still, the company experienced negative free-cash-flows, and analysts estimate that its June quarter will be even worse, with results expected July 29th. According to Zacks Consensus estimates, the company is expected to report an EPS of -$0.16 on sales of $137 million. This would represent its worst sales numbers in 15 quarters.
In the past, the company had been able to rely on its cash flows to support operations, but I do not believe that this will be possible in the coming quarters. As of March 31st, 2020, Boot Barn has $70 million in cash, digging into its revolving lines of credit to maintain operations.
Glimpse of Hope
Boot Barn has a small ecommerce presence (making up just over 15% of its sales), unlike many of its cohorts. Boot Barn stores are largely located in rural areas, which are expected to increase in brick-and-mortar foot traffic more quickly than in non-rural regions. These two silver-linings could be this retailer’s saving grace, but uncertainty remains high, and I would still stay away from BOOT shares.
Key Takeaways
This unprecedented global pandemic has been able to turn a seemingly healthy growing company on its head. There is still hope for this rural retailer, but it is up to management to navigate these murky economic waters. For now, I would keep my distance from these shares until we get more color on management’s strategy to get through this highly uncertain period.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021. Click here for the 6 trades >>
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Bear Of The Day: Boot Barn (BOOT)
Boot Barn (BOOT - Free Report) was actually a healthy growing company coming into this pandemic-driven economic slowdown, but this natural disaster triggered a rude awakening for this working-class retailer. BOOT shares have plummeted roughly 57% for 2020 thus far, as investors price out this firm’s potential.
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. Quote
The stock had driven up over 500% from Q4 of 2017 until January of this year as the company runway of growth kept extending, but unfortunately, it looks like the business may have overextended itself as the stock price. Analysts have been decreasing their EPS estimates in both the near and long-term, pushing BOOT into a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
The Pandemic’s Impact
Just to be entirely transparent off the bat, I am not recommending that you bet against shares of BOOT, I am merely saying these shares may still be in trouble, despite losing most of their value from January.
Boot Barn is retail that sells functional workwear to those in working-class jobs such as construction, manufacturing, oil & gas, electric/plumbing, and agriculture. These are the industries that are seeing some of the most significant employment cutbacks.
This enterprise has a considerable strategic presence in key oil regions around the US, and the massive hit that this industry has taken is going to ripple into Boot Barn’s financials.
Loss of employment and job uncertainty is going to hamper demand for Boot Barn products substantially. It will be years before these industries reach full employment again (if they ever do), and I suspect that this will strain demand for Boot Barn in the coming years.
Boot Barn had been aggressively expanding its western presence with an increasing number of big-box brick-and-mortar storefronts averaging 11,000 square feet. The company currently operates 264 stores in 33 states, representing a 50% storefront increase in the past 5 years. I think they may have overextended themselves. The overhead from its enormous storefronts may be Boot Barn’s undoing.
Financial Situation
The business’s paper-thin margins, combined with massive inventory levels, is quite concerning to me. Boot Barn will likely be forced to sell its products at a sizable discount to clear some of its inventory. This will weigh heavily on its already tight margins.
Boot Barn was able to keep its bottom-line above water in its March quarter, with its e-commerce segment being its life preserver. Still, the company experienced negative free-cash-flows, and analysts estimate that its June quarter will be even worse, with results expected July 29th. According to Zacks Consensus estimates, the company is expected to report an EPS of -$0.16 on sales of $137 million. This would represent its worst sales numbers in 15 quarters.
In the past, the company had been able to rely on its cash flows to support operations, but I do not believe that this will be possible in the coming quarters. As of March 31st, 2020, Boot Barn has $70 million in cash, digging into its revolving lines of credit to maintain operations.
Glimpse of Hope
Boot Barn has a small ecommerce presence (making up just over 15% of its sales), unlike many of its cohorts. Boot Barn stores are largely located in rural areas, which are expected to increase in brick-and-mortar foot traffic more quickly than in non-rural regions. These two silver-linings could be this retailer’s saving grace, but uncertainty remains high, and I would still stay away from BOOT shares.
Key Takeaways
This unprecedented global pandemic has been able to turn a seemingly healthy growing company on its head. There is still hope for this rural retailer, but it is up to management to navigate these murky economic waters. For now, I would keep my distance from these shares until we get more color on management’s strategy to get through this highly uncertain period.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021.
Click here for the 6 trades >>