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Can Big Lots' (BIG) Latest ASR Program Help Stock Revive?
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Big Lots, Inc. (BIG - Free Report) , which recently disappointed with dismal first-quarter fiscal 2018 results, seems to be making efforts to regain investors’ confidence. To this end, the company unveiled an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) contract, which sent its shares up by 1.1% during yesterday’s after-market trading session.
Per the agreement, Big Lots will buy back common shares worth roughly $100 million from Goldman Sachs in a privately negotiated ASR transaction. While Big Lots will pay the purchase price of $100 million to Goldman Sachs by June 7, 2018, the latter will make an initial delivery of nearly 2.0 million shares to Big Lots. The total number of shares repurchased by Big Lots under the ASR deal will depend on the “Repurchase Price.”
The transaction, which will be funded by Big Lots through cash in hand along with available borrowings, is anticipated to conclude during the second quarter of fiscal 2018. Further, the completion of this buyback program will mark the end of Big Lots’ 2018 Share Repurchase Program that was authorized on Mar 7, 2018. Well, the ASR program speaks of Big Lots’ solid free cash flow and balance sheet status alongside reflecting its commitment to shareholders.
In fact, the company’s healthy financial status has helped it make shareholder-friendly moves like dividend payments and share buybacks for quite some time now. Evidently, the company returned $195 million and $288 million to shareholders in the form of share repurchase and dividends in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. In fiscal 2015, Big Lots returned $239 million to shareholders under its share repurchase program.
Apart from Big Lots, retailers like Dollar General (DG - Free Report) , Ross Stores (ROST - Free Report) and Dillard’s (DDS - Free Report) among others are also known for their robust shareholder-friendly moves.
Coming back to Big Lots, although the news offered some respite to investors, it may take some time for this Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock to revive from the darkness caused by its first-quarter fiscal 2018 show. Incidentally, Big Lots’ earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate after nine straight quarters of beat. Further, it lagged sales estimates for the third straight quarter. Moreover, comparable store sales and margins remained soft, while the guidance for fiscal 2018 was also discouraging.
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
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Can Big Lots' (BIG) Latest ASR Program Help Stock Revive?
Big Lots, Inc. (BIG - Free Report) , which recently disappointed with dismal first-quarter fiscal 2018 results, seems to be making efforts to regain investors’ confidence. To this end, the company unveiled an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) contract, which sent its shares up by 1.1% during yesterday’s after-market trading session.
Per the agreement, Big Lots will buy back common shares worth roughly $100 million from Goldman Sachs in a privately negotiated ASR transaction. While Big Lots will pay the purchase price of $100 million to Goldman Sachs by June 7, 2018, the latter will make an initial delivery of nearly 2.0 million shares to Big Lots. The total number of shares repurchased by Big Lots under the ASR deal will depend on the “Repurchase Price.”
The transaction, which will be funded by Big Lots through cash in hand along with available borrowings, is anticipated to conclude during the second quarter of fiscal 2018. Further, the completion of this buyback program will mark the end of Big Lots’ 2018 Share Repurchase Program that was authorized on Mar 7, 2018. Well, the ASR program speaks of Big Lots’ solid free cash flow and balance sheet status alongside reflecting its commitment to shareholders.
In fact, the company’s healthy financial status has helped it make shareholder-friendly moves like dividend payments and share buybacks for quite some time now. Evidently, the company returned $195 million and $288 million to shareholders in the form of share repurchase and dividends in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. In fiscal 2015, Big Lots returned $239 million to shareholders under its share repurchase program.
Apart from Big Lots, retailers like Dollar General (DG - Free Report) , Ross Stores (ROST - Free Report) and Dillard’s (DDS - Free Report) among others are also known for their robust shareholder-friendly moves.
Coming back to Big Lots, although the news offered some respite to investors, it may take some time for this Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock to revive from the darkness caused by its first-quarter fiscal 2018 show. Incidentally, Big Lots’ earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate after nine straight quarters of beat. Further, it lagged sales estimates for the third straight quarter. Moreover, comparable store sales and margins remained soft, while the guidance for fiscal 2018 was also discouraging.
Consequently, Big Lots lost 3.3% since the drab outcome, while it plunged close to 27% in the past three months, against the industry’s 7.3% upside. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
See Them Free>>