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Citi Trends (CTRN) Q2 Loss Lower than Expected, Sales Beat
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Shares of Citi Trends Inc. (CTRN - Free Report) jumped 11.6%, after the company reported a narrower-than-expected loss for second-quarter fiscal 2016. It recorded adjusted loss of 1 cent per share in the quarter, which was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 5 cents. However, in the year-ago quarter, the company had recorded adjusted earnings of 1 cent per share.
Citi Trends’ sales inched up 0.9% year over year to $155.3 million and also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $153 million.
Comparable store sales (comps) dipped 1% against a 4% increase in the prior-year quarter. The comps decline was attributed to a 6.5% drop in average units sold, offset by a 5% rise in the average number of items per transaction and a 0.5% increase in the number of customer transactions.
On the basis of merchandise category, comps at the Home division were up 30% following a 17% rise in the same period last year. Meanwhile, Accessories, which includes footwear, jumped 4% after witnessing a 6% increase in the year-ago period. The Men’s division’s comps remained flat year over year, following a 1% drop in the year-ago period. Also, comps at the Ladies’ and Children’s divisions were down 6% and 8%, respectively, compared with a 7% rise and a 1% fall recorded in the prior-year period.
Cost of goods sold, as a percentage of sales, expanded 70 basis points (bps) in the fiscal second quarter, owing to higher freight charges and core merchandise margin, both of which had equal contributions.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses inched up 0.7% year over year to $56.1 million, owing to a fall in incentive compensation charges that nearly offset the costs related to increased store count and reasonable expense inflation. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses contracted 10 bps to 36.1%. Additionally, depreciation expense fell 6.5% to $4.3 million due to fewer stores opened in the past.
Financials
Citi Trends had no debt on its balance sheet at the end of the second quarter. As of Jul 30, 2016, cash and cash equivalents were $39.6 million compared with $54.4 million as of Aug 1, 2015. Shareholders' equity totaled approximately $219.5 million against $223.2 million in the prior-year period.
Concurrently, the company announced a quarterly dividend of 6 cents per share, payable on Sep 13, 2016, to shareholders on record as of Aug 30.
Store Update
During the quarter, the company introduced four stores and relocated or expanded two stores. As of Aug 17, 2016, the company operated 530 stores in 31 states.
In fiscal 2016, the company aims to open about 16–18 stores. Moreover, it intends to relocate or expand 13 stores, and remodel about 20 stores. In third-quarter fiscal 2016, Citi Trends plans to introduce 7–9 stores, while relocating or expanding 5 stores.
Outlook
Going forward, Citi Trends remains hopeful of driving sales, with persistent improvement in its home mix business, and enhancements to apparel variety.
Management anticipates AUS to remain pressurized through the rest of fiscal 2016, expecting a fall of 4%–7% for the fiscal. However, it expects the number of transactions to trend upward, thus providing partial relief to investors.
Also, the company is pleased with its comps growth so far in the third quarter. Comps for the first two weeks of August jumped 4% compared with 6% growth in the year-ago period. The company believes that the upside in sales was driven by its solid inventory position as it entered the third quarter. So far, third-quarter inventory is up 4.5%, with comp store inventory up 1%.
In the second half of fiscal 2016, the company expects total inventories to improve 2%–5% to match its sales trend.
Zacks Rank
Citi Trends currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the same industry include Nordstrom Inc. (JWN - Free Report) , sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), DSW Inc. and The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE - Free Report) , both carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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Citi Trends (CTRN) Q2 Loss Lower than Expected, Sales Beat
Shares of Citi Trends Inc. (CTRN - Free Report) jumped 11.6%, after the company reported a narrower-than-expected loss for second-quarter fiscal 2016. It recorded adjusted loss of 1 cent per share in the quarter, which was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 5 cents. However, in the year-ago quarter, the company had recorded adjusted earnings of 1 cent per share.
CITI TRENDS INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
CITI TRENDS INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | CITI TRENDS INC Quote
Quarter in Detail
Citi Trends’ sales inched up 0.9% year over year to $155.3 million and also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $153 million.
Comparable store sales (comps) dipped 1% against a 4% increase in the prior-year quarter. The comps decline was attributed to a 6.5% drop in average units sold, offset by a 5% rise in the average number of items per transaction and a 0.5% increase in the number of customer transactions.
On the basis of merchandise category, comps at the Home division were up 30% following a 17% rise in the same period last year. Meanwhile, Accessories, which includes footwear, jumped 4% after witnessing a 6% increase in the year-ago period. The Men’s division’s comps remained flat year over year, following a 1% drop in the year-ago period. Also, comps at the Ladies’ and Children’s divisions were down 6% and 8%, respectively, compared with a 7% rise and a 1% fall recorded in the prior-year period.
Cost of goods sold, as a percentage of sales, expanded 70 basis points (bps) in the fiscal second quarter, owing to higher freight charges and core merchandise margin, both of which had equal contributions.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses inched up 0.7% year over year to $56.1 million, owing to a fall in incentive compensation charges that nearly offset the costs related to increased store count and reasonable expense inflation. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses contracted 10 bps to 36.1%. Additionally, depreciation expense fell 6.5% to $4.3 million due to fewer stores opened in the past.
Financials
Citi Trends had no debt on its balance sheet at the end of the second quarter. As of Jul 30, 2016, cash and cash equivalents were $39.6 million compared with $54.4 million as of Aug 1, 2015. Shareholders' equity totaled approximately $219.5 million against $223.2 million in the prior-year period.
Concurrently, the company announced a quarterly dividend of 6 cents per share, payable on Sep 13, 2016, to shareholders on record as of Aug 30.
Store Update
During the quarter, the company introduced four stores and relocated or expanded two stores. As of Aug 17, 2016, the company operated 530 stores in 31 states.
In fiscal 2016, the company aims to open about 16–18 stores. Moreover, it intends to relocate or expand 13 stores, and remodel about 20 stores. In third-quarter fiscal 2016, Citi Trends plans to introduce 7–9 stores, while relocating or expanding 5 stores.
Outlook
Going forward, Citi Trends remains hopeful of driving sales, with persistent improvement in its home mix business, and enhancements to apparel variety.
Management anticipates AUS to remain pressurized through the rest of fiscal 2016, expecting a fall of 4%–7% for the fiscal. However, it expects the number of transactions to trend upward, thus providing partial relief to investors.
Also, the company is pleased with its comps growth so far in the third quarter. Comps for the first two weeks of August jumped 4% compared with 6% growth in the year-ago period. The company believes that the upside in sales was driven by its solid inventory position as it entered the third quarter. So far, third-quarter inventory is up 4.5%, with comp store inventory up 1%.
In the second half of fiscal 2016, the company expects total inventories to improve 2%–5% to match its sales trend.
Zacks Rank
Citi Trends currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the same industry include Nordstrom Inc. (JWN - Free Report) , sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), DSW Inc. and The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE - Free Report) , both carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free report >>