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TJX Companies (TJX) Up 4.3% Since Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
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It has been about a month since the last earnings report for The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX - Free Report) . Shares have added about 4.3% in that time frame, outperforming the market.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
TJX Companies Q2 Earnings and Revenues Top
The TJX Companies reported impressive second-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein both earnings and revenues surpassed expectations, driven by improved traffic and margin improvements, as well as higher market share at each of its four divisions. Following the results, the company raised its fiscal 2018 earnings guidance.
In the reported quarter, adjusted earnings of 85 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents by 1.2%. Earnings also exceeded management’s guidance of 81–83 cents per share. The bottom line grew 1.2% year over year, backed by higher consumer traffic and improved margins. Currency hurt earnings by 4%, as management had expected. However, it compares unfavorably with the 3-cent positive impact it had on earnings in the preceding quarter.
Quarterly Details
Net sales increased 6% year over year to $8.358 billion, backed by an increase in comps and improved traffic. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.329 billion by 0.3%. Currency headwinds negatively impacted sales by 1 percentage points (pp).
TJX Companies' consolidated comps grew 3%, higher than the preceding quarter’s comps growth of 1%, but lower than the 4% comps growth in the year-ago quarter. Comps growth in the quarter was also higher than the management’s guidance of 1–2% growth. Higher comps at HomeGoods and TJX Canada increased 7% each, while comps increased 2% and 1% in Marmaxx and the International segment, respectively.
Gross margin contracted 0.9 pp year over year to 28.5%. The downside was primarily due to losses related to the company’s inventory hedges. Nevertheless, the company witnessed strong increase in merchandise margins.
However, selling, general and administrative costs, as a percentage of sales, increased 0.1 pp to 17.8% due to increase in wages, as was anticipated by the company. TJX Companies' consolidated pre-tax profit margin contracted 0.9 pp year over year to 10.7% of sales.
Other Financial Updates
During the second quarter, the company repurchased 7.5 million shares for $550 million. For fiscal 2018, the company now expects to repurchase approximately $1.5–$1.8 billion shares, which was earlier expected to be approximately $1.3– $1.8 billion shares. We note that in Feb 2017, the company’s board has approved an additional $1 billion stock repurchase program.
Cash and cash equivalents were $2.45 billion as of Jul 29, 2017, while long-term debt was $2.23 billion. Shareholders’ equity was $4.54 billion as of Jul 29. Cash flow from operations were $1.1 billion at the end of the second quarter, while capital expenditure was $506.9 million, resulting in free cash flow of $596.1 million.
During the quarter, the company increased its store count by 51 stores to a total of 3,913 stores. It had increased square footage by 5% over the same period last year.
Q3 Guidance
TJX Companies issued its guidance for third-quarter fiscal 2018. The company expects earnings in the range of 98 cents to $1.00 per share, while the prior-year adjusted earnings were 91 cents. Wage increases are expected to negatively impact earnings growth by 1%. Currency headwinds are likely to positively impact earnings by 3%, while the change in accounting rules for share-based compensation will have a positive impact on earnings growth by an additional 2%. The company expects comps growth of 1–2%, while last year’s growth.
Fiscal 2018 Guidance
For fiscal 2018, TJX Companies has raised its earnings guidance. The company now projects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $3.78–$3.82, compared with the prior range of $3.71–$3.78. The adjusted guidance (excluding benefit of 11 cents from the 53rd week in fiscal 2018) would represent a 7–8% increase from fiscal 2017 adjusted results of $3.53 per share. While wage increases are expected to negatively impact earnings growth by 2%, the change in accounting rules for share-based compensation will positively impact earnings growth by 2%. Comps are also expected to grow 1–2% for fiscal 2018.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Analysts were quiet during the last month as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.
At this time, TJX Companies' stock has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a bit on the momentum front with a B. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Based on our scores, the stock is more suitable for growth investors than those looking for value and momentum.
Outlook
Notably, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect in-line returns from the stock in the next few months.
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TJX Companies (TJX) Up 4.3% Since Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX - Free Report) . Shares have added about 4.3% in that time frame, outperforming the market.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
TJX Companies Q2 Earnings and Revenues Top
The TJX Companies reported impressive second-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein both earnings and revenues surpassed expectations, driven by improved traffic and margin improvements, as well as higher market share at each of its four divisions. Following the results, the company raised its fiscal 2018 earnings guidance.
In the reported quarter, adjusted earnings of 85 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents by 1.2%. Earnings also exceeded management’s guidance of 81–83 cents per share. The bottom line grew 1.2% year over year, backed by higher consumer traffic and improved margins. Currency hurt earnings by 4%, as management had expected. However, it compares unfavorably with the 3-cent positive impact it had on earnings in the preceding quarter.
Quarterly Details
Net sales increased 6% year over year to $8.358 billion, backed by an increase in comps and improved traffic. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.329 billion by 0.3%. Currency headwinds negatively impacted sales by 1 percentage points (pp).
TJX Companies' consolidated comps grew 3%, higher than the preceding quarter’s comps growth of 1%, but lower than the 4% comps growth in the year-ago quarter. Comps growth in the quarter was also higher than the management’s guidance of 1–2% growth. Higher comps at HomeGoods and TJX Canada increased 7% each, while comps increased 2% and 1% in Marmaxx and the International segment, respectively.
Gross margin contracted 0.9 pp year over year to 28.5%. The downside was primarily due to losses related to the company’s inventory hedges. Nevertheless, the company witnessed strong increase in merchandise margins.
However, selling, general and administrative costs, as a percentage of sales, increased 0.1 pp to 17.8% due to increase in wages, as was anticipated by the company. TJX Companies' consolidated pre-tax profit margin contracted 0.9 pp year over year to 10.7% of sales.
Other Financial Updates
During the second quarter, the company repurchased 7.5 million shares for $550 million. For fiscal 2018, the company now expects to repurchase approximately $1.5–$1.8 billion shares, which was earlier expected to be approximately $1.3– $1.8 billion shares. We note that in Feb 2017, the company’s board has approved an additional $1 billion stock repurchase program.
Cash and cash equivalents were $2.45 billion as of Jul 29, 2017, while long-term debt was $2.23 billion. Shareholders’ equity was $4.54 billion as of Jul 29. Cash flow from operations were $1.1 billion at the end of the second quarter, while capital expenditure was $506.9 million, resulting in free cash flow of $596.1 million.
During the quarter, the company increased its store count by 51 stores to a total of 3,913 stores. It had increased square footage by 5% over the same period last year.
Q3 Guidance
TJX Companies issued its guidance for third-quarter fiscal 2018. The company expects earnings in the range of 98 cents to $1.00 per share, while the prior-year adjusted earnings were 91 cents. Wage increases are expected to negatively impact earnings growth by 1%. Currency headwinds are likely to positively impact earnings by 3%, while the change in accounting rules for share-based compensation will have a positive impact on earnings growth by an additional 2%. The company expects comps growth of 1–2%, while last year’s growth.
Fiscal 2018 Guidance
For fiscal 2018, TJX Companies has raised its earnings guidance. The company now projects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $3.78–$3.82, compared with the prior range of $3.71–$3.78. The adjusted guidance (excluding benefit of 11 cents from the 53rd week in fiscal 2018) would represent a 7–8% increase from fiscal 2017 adjusted results of $3.53 per share. While wage increases are expected to negatively impact earnings growth by 2%, the change in accounting rules for share-based compensation will positively impact earnings growth by 2%. Comps are also expected to grow 1–2% for fiscal 2018.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Analysts were quiet during the last month as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.
The TJX Companies, Inc. Price and Consensus
The TJX Companies, Inc. Price and Consensus | The TJX Companies, Inc. Quote
VGM Scores
At this time, TJX Companies' stock has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a bit on the momentum front with a B. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Based on our scores, the stock is more suitable for growth investors than those looking for value and momentum.
Outlook
Notably, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect in-line returns from the stock in the next few months.