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Why Is GATX (GATX) Up 7.5% Since Its Last Earnings Report?
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It has been about a month since the last earnings report for GATX Corporation (GATX - Free Report) . Shares have added about 7.5% in that time frame.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is GATX 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.
First-Quarter Earnings
GATX's earnings of earnings per share of $1.98 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17. The bottom line also improved 37.5% on a year-over-year basis. On the flip side, revenues of $305.3 million fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $306.3 million. The metric also contracted 3.4% year over year.
For 2018, the company continues to expect earnings per share in the range of $4.55-$4.75.
Segment-Wise Results
Profits at the Rail North America segment improved to $108.9 million from $93 million a year ago. The uptick was mainly owing to higher gains on asset disposition in the quarter under review. The renewal lease rate change of the company’s Lease Price Index (LPI) was -11.6% in the reported quarter. Additionally, average lease renewal term for cars included in the LPI was 34 months compared with 29 months in the year-ago quarter.
In fact, Rail North America’s wholly owned fleet had approximately 119,000 rail cars at the end of the reported quarter. Fleet utilization came in at 98.2% compared with 99.1% at the end of the year-ago quarter.
Profits at the Rail International segment increased 41.8% year over year to $19 million. The uptick was owing to a rise in railcars on lease at GATX Rail Europe, apart from the favorable movements related to foreign exchange.
Moreover, GATX Rail Europe’s fleet totaled approximately 23,000 rail cars at the end of the first quarter. Fleet utilization was 96.7% compared with 95% at the end of the year-ago quarter.
Profits at the Portfolio Management unit decreased 5.4% to $13.9 million. Moreover, the American Steamship segment's profit was $0.8 million in the reported quarter against the year-ago loss of $0.2 million. Segmental operations were hampered as vessels were in winter lay-up for most of the first quarter.
Liquidity
GATX exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $233.1 million compared with $296.5 million at the end of 2017. Restricted cash was $4.3 million compared with $3.2 million at the end of the previous year.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. There have been three revisions lower for the current quarter.
At this time, GATX has an average Growth Score of C, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. The stock was also allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. 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 equally suitable for value, growth, and momentum investors.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, GATX has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
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Why Is GATX (GATX) Up 7.5% Since Its Last Earnings Report?
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for GATX Corporation (GATX - Free Report) . Shares have added about 7.5% in that time frame.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is GATX 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.
First-Quarter Earnings
GATX's earnings of earnings per share of $1.98 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17. The bottom line also improved 37.5% on a year-over-year basis. On the flip side, revenues of $305.3 million fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $306.3 million. The metric also contracted 3.4% year over year.
For 2018, the company continues to expect earnings per share in the range of $4.55-$4.75.
Segment-Wise Results
Profits at the Rail North America segment improved to $108.9 million from $93 million a year ago. The uptick was mainly owing to higher gains on asset disposition in the quarter under review. The renewal lease rate change of the company’s Lease Price Index (LPI) was -11.6% in the reported quarter. Additionally, average lease renewal term for cars included in the LPI was 34 months compared with 29 months in the year-ago quarter.
In fact, Rail North America’s wholly owned fleet had approximately 119,000 rail cars at the end of the reported quarter. Fleet utilization came in at 98.2% compared with 99.1% at the end of the year-ago quarter.
Profits at the Rail International segment increased 41.8% year over year to $19 million. The uptick was owing to a rise in railcars on lease at GATX Rail Europe, apart from the favorable movements related to foreign exchange.
Moreover, GATX Rail Europe’s fleet totaled approximately 23,000 rail cars at the end of the first quarter. Fleet utilization was 96.7% compared with 95% at the end of the year-ago quarter.
Profits at the Portfolio Management unit decreased 5.4% to $13.9 million. Moreover, the American Steamship segment's profit was $0.8 million in the reported quarter against the year-ago loss of $0.2 million. Segmental operations were hampered as vessels were in winter lay-up for most of the first quarter.
Liquidity
GATX exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $233.1 million compared with $296.5 million at the end of 2017. Restricted cash was $4.3 million compared with $3.2 million at the end of the previous year.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. There have been three revisions lower for the current quarter.
GATX Corporation Price and Consensus
GATX Corporation Price and Consensus | GATX Corporation Quote
VGM Scores
At this time, GATX has an average Growth Score of C, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. The stock was also allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. 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 equally suitable for value, growth, and momentum investors.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, GATX has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.