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Gap (GPS) Q2 Earnings Beat, Stock Down on Soft Flagship Comps
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The Gap Inc. (GPS - Free Report) reported solid second-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein earnings and revenues surpassed the estimates and improved year over year. Notably, the company reverted to its positive earnings streak after a miss in the last reported quarter, with seventh consecutive sales beat. Further, management reiterated its guidance for the fiscal year.
However, shares of the company declined 7.2% in after-hours trading yesterday. The downside can mainly be attributed to soft comparable store sales (comps) at the company’s flagship brand coupled with contraction in the operating margin. In the past three months, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has gained 15.3% compared with the industry’s 13.7% rally.
Q2 Highlights
In the fiscal second quarter, Gap’s earnings of 76 cents per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 72 cents. The bottom line also improved 31% from 58 cents registered a year ago. Quarterly earnings were also benefited from currency tailwinds of 2 cents per share.
Net sales grew 8% to $4,085 million and also fared better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,985 million. Excluding the presentation changes owing to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard, the top line increased 4% year over year. These changes contributed $139 million to the top line. Also, foreign currency translations aided revenue growth by $23 million.
Total comps edged up 2% compared with 1% growth in the year-ago period. Notably, comps improved for the seventh straight quarter due to continued strength at Old Navy and growth at Banana Republic. Comps for Old Navy and Banana Republic were up 5% and 2%, respectively, while the Gap brand’s comps fell 5%.
Gross profit rose 10% to $1,627 million with gross margin expansion of 90 basis points (bps) to 39.8%. Excluding the impact of presentation changes from the revenue recognition standard, gross profit increased 4%, while gross margin contracted 10 bps to 38.8% mainly due to the company’s flagship brand.
Further, operating income declined 11.8% to $398 million with operating margin contraction of 220 bps to 9.7%. Excluding the impact from the revenue recognition standard, operating margin decreased 10 bps to 10.1%.
Financials
Gap ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1,322 million, long-term debt of $1,249 million and total stockholders’ equity of $3,340 million.
In the first half of fiscal 2018, the company generated net cash flow from operations of $546 million and incurred capital expenditures of $326 million. Gap had free cash flow of $220 million as of Aug 4, 2018.
For fiscal 2018, management continues to project capital expenditures of roughly $800 million. The amount will be used for transformative infrastructure investments to enhance its omni-channel platform, including information technology as well as supply chain capabilities.
Coming to Gap’s shareholder-friendly moves, the company bought back 3.2 million shares for approximately $100 million and paid dividends of 24.25 cents per share in the quarter under review. This dividend reflects more than 5% growth year over year. Additionally, management announced a third-quarter dividend of 24.25 cents per share, payable on or after Oct 31, 2018 to shareholders of record as of Oct 10. The company still had 385 million shares for repurchases at the end of the reported quarter.
Moving ahead, management continues anticipating share buybacks worth approximately $100 million per quarter through fiscal 2018.
Store Updates
While Gap opened 45 stores, including 34 company-operated and 11 were franchises, it shuttered 36 outlets in the reported quarter. The stores that were closed included company-operated and franchise locations of 18 each. Consequently, the company ended the fiscal second quarter with 3,626 outlets in 43 countries, of which 3,187 were company-operated and 439 were franchises.
In fiscal 2018, Gap still anticipates opening nearly 25 company-operated stores, net of closures and repositions. In sync with its growth strategy, the company expects to open more of Athleta and Old Navy stores and close down Gap and Banana Republic stores.
Outlook
Following the solid quarterly results, Gap reaffirmed its outlook for fiscal 2018. Comps are still anticipated to be flat to up slightly. Management continues to envision earnings per share in the range of $2.55-$2.70. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 is pegged at $2.58.
Moreover, the effective tax rate for fiscal 2018 is still expected to be nearly 26% owing to the impacts of the recent tax reform.
Looking for Better-Ranked Retail Stocks, Check These
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has an impressive long-term earnings growth rate of 15%.
5 Medical Stocks to Buy Now
Zacks names 5 companies poised to ride a medical breakthrough that is targeting cures for leukemia, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and other conditions.
New products in this field are already generating substantial revenue and even more wondrous treatments are in the pipeline. Early investors could realize exceptional profits.
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Gap (GPS) Q2 Earnings Beat, Stock Down on Soft Flagship Comps
The Gap Inc. (GPS - Free Report) reported solid second-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein earnings and revenues surpassed the estimates and improved year over year. Notably, the company reverted to its positive earnings streak after a miss in the last reported quarter, with seventh consecutive sales beat. Further, management reiterated its guidance for the fiscal year.
However, shares of the company declined 7.2% in after-hours trading yesterday. The downside can mainly be attributed to soft comparable store sales (comps) at the company’s flagship brand coupled with contraction in the operating margin. In the past three months, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has gained 15.3% compared with the industry’s 13.7% rally.
Q2 Highlights
In the fiscal second quarter, Gap’s earnings of 76 cents per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 72 cents. The bottom line also improved 31% from 58 cents registered a year ago. Quarterly earnings were also benefited from currency tailwinds of 2 cents per share.
Net sales grew 8% to $4,085 million and also fared better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,985 million. Excluding the presentation changes owing to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard, the top line increased 4% year over year. These changes contributed $139 million to the top line. Also, foreign currency translations aided revenue growth by $23 million.
Total comps edged up 2% compared with 1% growth in the year-ago period. Notably, comps improved for the seventh straight quarter due to continued strength at Old Navy and growth at Banana Republic. Comps for Old Navy and Banana Republic were up 5% and 2%, respectively, while the Gap brand’s comps fell 5%.
The Gap, Inc. Price and Consensus
The Gap, Inc. Price and Consensus | The Gap, Inc. Quote
Margins
Gross profit rose 10% to $1,627 million with gross margin expansion of 90 basis points (bps) to 39.8%. Excluding the impact of presentation changes from the revenue recognition standard, gross profit increased 4%, while gross margin contracted 10 bps to 38.8% mainly due to the company’s flagship brand.
Further, operating income declined 11.8% to $398 million with operating margin contraction of 220 bps to 9.7%. Excluding the impact from the revenue recognition standard, operating margin decreased 10 bps to 10.1%.
Financials
Gap ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1,322 million, long-term debt of $1,249 million and total stockholders’ equity of $3,340 million.
In the first half of fiscal 2018, the company generated net cash flow from operations of $546 million and incurred capital expenditures of $326 million. Gap had free cash flow of $220 million as of Aug 4, 2018.
For fiscal 2018, management continues to project capital expenditures of roughly $800 million. The amount will be used for transformative infrastructure investments to enhance its omni-channel platform, including information technology as well as supply chain capabilities.
Coming to Gap’s shareholder-friendly moves, the company bought back 3.2 million shares for approximately $100 million and paid dividends of 24.25 cents per share in the quarter under review. This dividend reflects more than 5% growth year over year. Additionally, management announced a third-quarter dividend of 24.25 cents per share, payable on or after Oct 31, 2018 to shareholders of record as of Oct 10. The company still had 385 million shares for repurchases at the end of the reported quarter.
Moving ahead, management continues anticipating share buybacks worth approximately $100 million per quarter through fiscal 2018.
Store Updates
While Gap opened 45 stores, including 34 company-operated and 11 were franchises, it shuttered 36 outlets in the reported quarter. The stores that were closed included company-operated and franchise locations of 18 each. Consequently, the company ended the fiscal second quarter with 3,626 outlets in 43 countries, of which 3,187 were company-operated and 439 were franchises.
In fiscal 2018, Gap still anticipates opening nearly 25 company-operated stores, net of closures and repositions. In sync with its growth strategy, the company expects to open more of Athleta and Old Navy stores and close down Gap and Banana Republic stores.
Outlook
Following the solid quarterly results, Gap reaffirmed its outlook for fiscal 2018. Comps are still anticipated to be flat to up slightly. Management continues to envision earnings per share in the range of $2.55-$2.70. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 is pegged at $2.58.
Moreover, the effective tax rate for fiscal 2018 is still expected to be nearly 26% owing to the impacts of the recent tax reform.
Looking for Better-Ranked Retail Stocks, Check These
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 31.8% in the trailing four quarters. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has an impressive long-term earnings growth rate of 15%.
5 Medical Stocks to Buy Now
Zacks names 5 companies poised to ride a medical breakthrough that is targeting cures for leukemia, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and other conditions.
New products in this field are already generating substantial revenue and even more wondrous treatments are in the pipeline. Early investors could realize exceptional profits.
Click here to see the 5 stocks >>