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Grainger (GWW) Earnings & Revenues Top Estimates, Up Y/Y
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W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $7.14 in fourth-quarter 2022, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.97 by a margin of 2%. The bottom line improved 31% year over year, aided by margin improvement in both High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment segments and strong operating performance.
Including one-time items, EPS was $7.54 in the quarter under review compared with $5.44 in the last year’s quarter.
Grainger’s quarterly revenues rose 13% year over year to $3,802 million. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,762 million. Daily sales increased 17.2% from the prior-year quarter.
Sales were up 16.8% (or 17.2% on a daily, constant currency basis) in the High-Touch Solutions N.A. segment compared to the last year’s quarter due to strong price realization and volume growth. In the Endless Assortment segment, sales were up 0.9% year over year (18.2% on a daily, constant currency basis) driven by strong new customer acquisition and repeat business for the segment, as well as enterprise customer growth at MonotaRO.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The cost of sales climbed 9% year over year to $2,296 million. The gross profit rose 20% year over year to $1,506 million. The gross margin expanded to 39.6% in the quarter compared with the prior-year period’s 37.3% aided by improved margin performances in both segments.
Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 15% year over year to $962 million. Grainger’s adjusted operating income in the quarter was up 25.5% year on year to $523 million. The adjusted operating margin came in at 13.8%, a 135 basis point expansion from the prior-year quarter.
Financial Position
The company had cash and cash equivalents of $325 million at the end of 2022, up from $241 million at 2021-end. Cash flow from operating activities was $1,333 million in 2022 compared with $937 million in the last year.
Long-term debt was $2,284 million as of Dec 31, 2022, compared with $2,362 million as of Dec 31, 2021. Grainger returned $949 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks through 2022. Capital expenditures for the year were $256 million.
2022 Performance
Adjusted EPS surged 49.5% year over year to $29.66 in 2022, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $29.47. Including one-time items, EPS was $30.06 in 2022 compared with $19.84 in 2021.
Revenues improved 17% year over year to $15.23 billion. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.19 billion. Sales were up 19.3% on a daily, constant currency basis.
2023 Outlook
Grainger expects net sales for the current year between $16.2 billion and $16.8 billion. Sales growth guidance is at 6.6% - 10.6%. Daily sales growth is envisioned in the range of 7% to 12%. Earnings per share guidance are expected in the band of $32.00 - $34.50.
Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In the past year, Grainger’s shares have gained 19.3% against the industry’s 7.6% decline.
Some other top-ranked stocks from the Industrial Products sector are KnowBe4, Inc. , Tenaris (TS - Free Report) , and Deere & Company (DE - Free Report) . KNBE and TS sport a Zacks Rank of 1 at present, and DE has a Zacks Rank of 2.
KnowBe4’s earnings surprise in the last four quarters was 216.7%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2022 earnings is pegged at 24 cents, indicating a year-over-year increase of 127.3%. The consensus estimate for 2022 earnings has moved up 9% in the past 60 days. KNBE’s shares have gained 4% in a year.
Tenaris has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 20.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TS’ 2022 earnings is pegged at $4.38 per share. This indicates a 134.2% increase from the prior-year reported figure. The consensus estimate for 2022 earnings has moved north by 2.1% in the past 60 days. Its shares gained 36.9% in the last year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deere & Company’s fiscal 2023 earnings per share is pegged at $28.01, suggesting an increase of 19.6% from that reported in the last year. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2023 earnings has moved 2.7% upward in the last 60 days. DE has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 7.1%. Its shares gained 11.7% in the last year.
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Grainger (GWW) Earnings & Revenues Top Estimates, Up Y/Y
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $7.14 in fourth-quarter 2022, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.97 by a margin of 2%. The bottom line improved 31% year over year, aided by margin improvement in both High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment segments and strong operating performance.
Including one-time items, EPS was $7.54 in the quarter under review compared with $5.44 in the last year’s quarter.
Grainger’s quarterly revenues rose 13% year over year to $3,802 million. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,762 million. Daily sales increased 17.2% from the prior-year quarter.
Sales were up 16.8% (or 17.2% on a daily, constant currency basis) in the High-Touch Solutions N.A. segment compared to the last year’s quarter due to strong price realization and volume growth. In the Endless Assortment segment, sales were up 0.9% year over year (18.2% on a daily, constant currency basis) driven by strong new customer acquisition and repeat business for the segment, as well as enterprise customer growth at MonotaRO.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
W.W. Grainger, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | W.W. Grainger, Inc. Quote
Operational Update
The cost of sales climbed 9% year over year to $2,296 million. The gross profit rose 20% year over year to $1,506 million. The gross margin expanded to 39.6% in the quarter compared with the prior-year period’s 37.3% aided by improved margin performances in both segments.
Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 15% year over year to $962 million. Grainger’s adjusted operating income in the quarter was up 25.5% year on year to $523 million. The adjusted operating margin came in at 13.8%, a 135 basis point expansion from the prior-year quarter.
Financial Position
The company had cash and cash equivalents of $325 million at the end of 2022, up from $241 million at 2021-end. Cash flow from operating activities was $1,333 million in 2022 compared with $937 million in the last year.
Long-term debt was $2,284 million as of Dec 31, 2022, compared with $2,362 million as of Dec 31, 2021. Grainger returned $949 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks through 2022. Capital expenditures for the year were $256 million.
2022 Performance
Adjusted EPS surged 49.5% year over year to $29.66 in 2022, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $29.47. Including one-time items, EPS was $30.06 in 2022 compared with $19.84 in 2021.
Revenues improved 17% year over year to $15.23 billion. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.19 billion. Sales were up 19.3% on a daily, constant currency basis.
2023 Outlook
Grainger expects net sales for the current year between $16.2 billion and $16.8 billion. Sales growth guidance is at 6.6% - 10.6%. Daily sales growth is envisioned in the range of 7% to 12%. Earnings per share guidance are expected in the band of $32.00 - $34.50.
Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In the past year, Grainger’s shares have gained 19.3% against the industry’s 7.6% decline.
Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider
Grainger currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Some other top-ranked stocks from the Industrial Products sector are KnowBe4, Inc. , Tenaris (TS - Free Report) , and Deere & Company (DE - Free Report) . KNBE and TS sport a Zacks Rank of 1 at present, and DE has a Zacks Rank of 2.
KnowBe4’s earnings surprise in the last four quarters was 216.7%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2022 earnings is pegged at 24 cents, indicating a year-over-year increase of 127.3%. The consensus estimate for 2022 earnings has moved up 9% in the past 60 days. KNBE’s shares have gained 4% in a year.
Tenaris has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 20.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TS’ 2022 earnings is pegged at $4.38 per share. This indicates a 134.2% increase from the prior-year reported figure. The consensus estimate for 2022 earnings has moved north by 2.1% in the past 60 days. Its shares gained 36.9% in the last year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deere & Company’s fiscal 2023 earnings per share is pegged at $28.01, suggesting an increase of 19.6% from that reported in the last year. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2023 earnings has moved 2.7% upward in the last 60 days. DE has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 7.1%. Its shares gained 11.7% in the last year.