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Five Below (FIVE) Beats on Q3 Earnings & Sales, Raises View
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Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein the company maintained a decent top- and bottom-line growth year over year, with the eighth successive quarter of comparable-store sales growth. The quarter also marked the continuation of a remarkable streak of positive earnings and sales surprises. The reported figures surpassed management’s expectation as well.
Backed by the better-than-expected results, this Philadelphia, PA-based company raised its fiscal 2018 view. Certainly, the company’s strategic endeavors and upbeat performances have led this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock to gain approximately 29% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 8.3% growth.
Let’s Delve Deep
Adjusted earnings of 22 cents a share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 19 cents and soared 22.2% year over year. Additionally, the bottom line exceeded the company’s guided range of 17-19 cents a share.
Net sales grew 21.6% to $312.8 million from the year-ago quarter figure and also came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $304 million. The top line also surpassed the company’s guided range of $301-$304 million.
Five Below, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Comparable sales (comps) increased 4.8% in the reported quarter and surpassed the company’s previous guidance of 3-4% growth. Notably, the rate of growth was up from 2.7% registered in the preceding quarter.
While gross profit improved 22.1% year over year to $102.1 million, gross margin expanded 10 basis points to 32.6%. Improved gross profit led operating income to increase 5% to $15.5 million despite higher SG&A expenses. However, operating margin contracted 80 basis points from the year-ago quarter to 5%. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses increased approximately 90 basis points to 27.7% in the quarter under review.
Financials
Five Below ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $103.3 million and short-term investment securities of $85 million. At the end of the reported quarter, the company had no debt and total shareholders’ equity of $525.1 million.
During the 39-week period (ended Nov 3, 2018) the company had net cash from operating activities of $1.6 million and incurred capital expenditures of $82 million.
Store Updates
During the third quarter, the company opened 53 new stores, taking the count to 745 stores across 33 states, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 19.2%. Five Below plans to launch 125 net new stores in fiscal 2018. For the fourth quarter, the company expects to open about five net new stores.
Outlook
Management is quite impressed with the company’s quarterly performance. Meanwhile, the company remains committed to strategic initiatives such as enhancement of digital and e-commerce channels, improvement in customers’ shopping experience, store openings as well as marketing efforts.
For fiscal 2018, Five Below envisions net sales in the range of $1.550-$1.557 billion. The metric totaled $1,278.2 million in last year. Also, comparable sales are expected to increase 3.3-3.7%.
For the fourth quarter, management anticipates net sales between $593 million and $600 million. The metric amounted to $504.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Comparable sales are anticipated to grow 3-4%.
The company forecast fourth-quarter and fiscal 2018 earnings in the range of $1.53-$1.57 per share and $2.60-$2.64 per share, respectively. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter and fiscal 2018 is pegged at a respective $1.57 and $2.59.
Earlier, Five Below had anticipated fiscal 2018 net sales and earnings in the band of $1.528-$1.540 billion and $2.51-$2.57 per share, respectively.
Interested in Retail? 3 Stocks You Can’t Miss
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) delivered average positive earnings surprise of 15.1% in the trailing four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 23% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS - Free Report) delivered average positive earnings surprise of 25.5% in the trailing four quarters. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Foot Locker, Inc. (FL - Free Report) delivered average positive earnings surprise of 6.8% in the trailing four quarters. The stock carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
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It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
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Image: Bigstock
Five Below (FIVE) Beats on Q3 Earnings & Sales, Raises View
Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein the company maintained a decent top- and bottom-line growth year over year, with the eighth successive quarter of comparable-store sales growth. The quarter also marked the continuation of a remarkable streak of positive earnings and sales surprises. The reported figures surpassed management’s expectation as well.
Backed by the better-than-expected results, this Philadelphia, PA-based company raised its fiscal 2018 view. Certainly, the company’s strategic endeavors and upbeat performances have led this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock to gain approximately 29% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 8.3% growth.
Let’s Delve Deep
Adjusted earnings of 22 cents a share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 19 cents and soared 22.2% year over year. Additionally, the bottom line exceeded the company’s guided range of 17-19 cents a share.
Net sales grew 21.6% to $312.8 million from the year-ago quarter figure and also came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $304 million. The top line also surpassed the company’s guided range of $301-$304 million.
Five Below, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Five Below, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Five Below, Inc. Quote
Comparable sales (comps) increased 4.8% in the reported quarter and surpassed the company’s previous guidance of 3-4% growth. Notably, the rate of growth was up from 2.7% registered in the preceding quarter.
While gross profit improved 22.1% year over year to $102.1 million, gross margin expanded 10 basis points to 32.6%. Improved gross profit led operating income to increase 5% to $15.5 million despite higher SG&A expenses. However, operating margin contracted 80 basis points from the year-ago quarter to 5%. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses increased approximately 90 basis points to 27.7% in the quarter under review.
Financials
Five Below ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $103.3 million and short-term investment securities of $85 million. At the end of the reported quarter, the company had no debt and total shareholders’ equity of $525.1 million.
During the 39-week period (ended Nov 3, 2018) the company had net cash from operating activities of $1.6 million and incurred capital expenditures of $82 million.
Store Updates
During the third quarter, the company opened 53 new stores, taking the count to 745 stores across 33 states, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 19.2%. Five Below plans to launch 125 net new stores in fiscal 2018. For the fourth quarter, the company expects to open about five net new stores.
Outlook
Management is quite impressed with the company’s quarterly performance. Meanwhile, the company remains committed to strategic initiatives such as enhancement of digital and e-commerce channels, improvement in customers’ shopping experience, store openings as well as marketing efforts.
For fiscal 2018, Five Below envisions net sales in the range of $1.550-$1.557 billion. The metric totaled $1,278.2 million in last year. Also, comparable sales are expected to increase 3.3-3.7%.
For the fourth quarter, management anticipates net sales between $593 million and $600 million. The metric amounted to $504.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Comparable sales are anticipated to grow 3-4%.
The company forecast fourth-quarter and fiscal 2018 earnings in the range of $1.53-$1.57 per share and $2.60-$2.64 per share, respectively. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter and fiscal 2018 is pegged at a respective $1.57 and $2.59.
Earlier, Five Below had anticipated fiscal 2018 net sales and earnings in the band of $1.528-$1.540 billion and $2.51-$2.57 per share, respectively.
Interested in Retail? 3 Stocks You Can’t Miss
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) delivered average positive earnings surprise of 15.1% in the trailing four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 23% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS - Free Report) delivered average positive earnings surprise of 25.5% in the trailing four quarters. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Foot Locker, Inc. (FL - Free Report) delivered average positive earnings surprise of 6.8% in the trailing four quarters. The stock carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>