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Ralph Lauren (RL) Dips Despite Earnings and Sales Beat in Q2
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Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings of $2.26 per share, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.17. The bottom-line figure also increased by 13.6% from the prior-year quarter. Notably, this marked the company’s 15th straight quarter of earnings beat.
On a reported basis, Ralph Lauren posted earnings per share of $2.07, surging 18.3% from the year-ago figure of $1.75. Reported earnings for the quarter primarily included restructuring and other charges.
Ralph Lauren Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Notably, shares of Ralph Lauren decreased 6.4% in the pre-market session, despite the top- and bottom-line beat in the fiscal second quarter. However, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has rallied 31.9% year to date, outperforming the industry's 21.4% growth.
Revenues
Ralph Lauren’s net revenues increased 1.6% year over year to $1,690.9 million. Moreover, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,660 million. On constant-currency basis, revenues were up 2.1% on the back of growth in Asia. However, foreign currency hurt revenue growth by nearly 50 basis points (bps) in the fiscal second quarter.
Segment Details
North America: During the quarter under review, revenues at this segment rose 1% on a reported basis and nearly 2% in constant currency to $888.2 million. The improvement can be attributed to robust performance in retail stores and wholesale business. On a currency-neutral basis, comparable store sales at North America’s retail channel improved 1% owing to a 9% increase in e-commerce, offset by a 1% decline in brick and mortar stores. This marked a return to growth for the North America digital business, courtesy of strong brand building, robust consumer experience and higher quality of sales, supported by its new platform. Wholesale revenues for the segment were flat year over year.
Europe: Revenues for this segment dipped 1% year over year to $459.2 million, while currency-neutral revenues were flat. Currency-neutral comps dropped 4%, including a 4% fall in brick and mortar stores due to assortment and inventory challenges. However, comps were flat in e-commerce. In Europe, reported revenues for the wholesale business dipped 1% and were flat in constant currency. This downturn was mainly due to a shift in timing of shipments, which aided the fiscal first quarter performance and negatively impacted the fiscal second quarter.
Asia: Revenues at this segment were up 13% to $244.7 million and 14% in constant currency. The upside was driven by strong retail and wholesale sales. Comps rose 6% on a currency-neutral basis, courtesy of both brick and mortar, and e-commerce operations.
Margins
Ralph Lauren's adjusted gross profit margins expanded 100 bps to 60.9%, driven by efforts to enhance quality of sales through lower promotions, better pricing and favorable product mix. Additionally, foreign currency aided gross margins by 40 bps.
Driven by gross margin expansion, adjusted operating income margin expanded 50 bps to 13.9%. Further, foreign currency boosted operating margins by 30 bps.
Financials
Ralph Lauren ended the quarter with cash and short-term investments of $1,872.6 million, total debt of $683.9 million and total shareholders’ equity of $3,462 million. Inventory improved 15% to $994.6 million at the end of second-quarter fiscal 2019. This increase was driven by the investments made to support global store expansions, enhanced deliveries and increased shipments to Europe factory stores.
Moreover, the company incurred capital expenditures of $93.1 million as of Sep 29, 2018. For fiscal 2019, capital expenditure is estimated to be roughly $275 million.
Store Update
As of Sep 29, 2018, Ralph Lauren had 487 directly-operated stores and 638 concession shops globally. The directly-operated stores included 116 Ralph Lauren, 75 Club Monaco and 296 Polo factory stores.
Additionally, the company’s global licensing partners operated 91 Ralph Lauren stores and 59 Club Monaco stores, bringing the total number of licensed stores to 150. The company also had 119 licensed concession shops in operation.
Guidance
The company issued guidance for the third quarter and fiscal 2019. It projects net revenues to be flat to slightly up, on a constant-currency basis, in fiscal 2019. For the fiscal year, operating margin is anticipated to increase 40-60 bps in constant currency owing to gross margin expansion. Foreign currency is expected to negatively impact revenue growth by 75 bps and have a minimal impact on operating margin.
For the fiscal third quarter, management envisions net revenues to increase low single-digits in constant currency. Foreign currency is expected to mar revenue growth by approximately 100 bps. Operating margin is anticipated to grow around 20 basis points in constant currency and expected to be slightly benefited by foreign currency.
In fiscal 2019, effective tax rate is anticipated to be approximately 21%, while in the third quarter, tax rate is projected at 22-23%.
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (GIII - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15% and a Zacks Rank of 1.
Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.8% and a Zacks Rank #1.
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Ralph Lauren (RL) Dips Despite Earnings and Sales Beat in Q2
Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings of $2.26 per share, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.17. The bottom-line figure also increased by 13.6% from the prior-year quarter. Notably, this marked the company’s 15th straight quarter of earnings beat.
On a reported basis, Ralph Lauren posted earnings per share of $2.07, surging 18.3% from the year-ago figure of $1.75. Reported earnings for the quarter primarily included restructuring and other charges.
Ralph Lauren Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Ralph Lauren Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Ralph Lauren Corporation Quote
Notably, shares of Ralph Lauren decreased 6.4% in the pre-market session, despite the top- and bottom-line beat in the fiscal second quarter. However, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has rallied 31.9% year to date, outperforming the industry's 21.4% growth.
Revenues
Ralph Lauren’s net revenues increased 1.6% year over year to $1,690.9 million. Moreover, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,660 million. On constant-currency basis, revenues were up 2.1% on the back of growth in Asia. However, foreign currency hurt revenue growth by nearly 50 basis points (bps) in the fiscal second quarter.
Segment Details
North America: During the quarter under review, revenues at this segment rose 1% on a reported basis and nearly 2% in constant currency to $888.2 million. The improvement can be attributed to robust performance in retail stores and wholesale business. On a currency-neutral basis, comparable store sales at North America’s retail channel improved 1% owing to a 9% increase in e-commerce, offset by a 1% decline in brick and mortar stores. This marked a return to growth for the North America digital business, courtesy of strong brand building, robust consumer experience and higher quality of sales, supported by its new platform. Wholesale revenues for the segment were flat year over year.
Europe: Revenues for this segment dipped 1% year over year to $459.2 million, while currency-neutral revenues were flat. Currency-neutral comps dropped 4%, including a 4% fall in brick and mortar stores due to assortment and inventory challenges. However, comps were flat in e-commerce. In Europe, reported revenues for the wholesale business dipped 1% and were flat in constant currency. This downturn was mainly due to a shift in timing of shipments, which aided the fiscal first quarter performance and negatively impacted the fiscal second quarter.
Asia: Revenues at this segment were up 13% to $244.7 million and 14% in constant currency. The upside was driven by strong retail and wholesale sales. Comps rose 6% on a currency-neutral basis, courtesy of both brick and mortar, and e-commerce operations.
Margins
Ralph Lauren's adjusted gross profit margins expanded 100 bps to 60.9%, driven by efforts to enhance quality of sales through lower promotions, better pricing and favorable product mix. Additionally, foreign currency aided gross margins by 40 bps.
Driven by gross margin expansion, adjusted operating income margin expanded 50 bps to 13.9%. Further, foreign currency boosted operating margins by 30 bps.
Financials
Ralph Lauren ended the quarter with cash and short-term investments of $1,872.6 million, total debt of $683.9 million and total shareholders’ equity of $3,462 million. Inventory improved 15% to $994.6 million at the end of second-quarter fiscal 2019. This increase was driven by the investments made to support global store expansions, enhanced deliveries and increased shipments to Europe factory stores.
Moreover, the company incurred capital expenditures of $93.1 million as of Sep 29, 2018. For fiscal 2019, capital expenditure is estimated to be roughly $275 million.
Store Update
As of Sep 29, 2018, Ralph Lauren had 487 directly-operated stores and 638 concession shops globally. The directly-operated stores included 116 Ralph Lauren, 75 Club Monaco and 296 Polo factory stores.
Additionally, the company’s global licensing partners operated 91 Ralph Lauren stores and 59 Club Monaco stores, bringing the total number of licensed stores to 150. The company also had 119 licensed concession shops in operation.
Guidance
The company issued guidance for the third quarter and fiscal 2019. It projects net revenues to be flat to slightly up, on a constant-currency basis, in fiscal 2019. For the fiscal year, operating margin is anticipated to increase 40-60 bps in constant currency owing to gross margin expansion. Foreign currency is expected to negatively impact revenue growth by 75 bps and have a minimal impact on operating margin.
For the fiscal third quarter, management envisions net revenues to increase low single-digits in constant currency. Foreign currency is expected to mar revenue growth by approximately 100 bps. Operating margin is anticipated to grow around 20 basis points in constant currency and expected to be slightly benefited by foreign currency.
In fiscal 2019, effective tax rate is anticipated to be approximately 21%, while in the third quarter, tax rate is projected at 22-23%.
Three Top Textile-Apparel Stocks You Can’t Miss
Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (GIII - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15% and a Zacks Rank of 1.
Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.8% and a Zacks Rank #1.
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>>