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Burlington Stores' (BURL) Stock Down Despite Q4 Earnings Beat
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Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL - Free Report) delivered fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein both top and bottom lines improved year over year and the latter topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the 21st straight time. However, shares of the company lost close to 12% in yesterday’s trading session. In fact, Burlington Stores has tumbled 8% in the past three months, against the industry’s growth of 8.6%.
Yesterday’s bearish stance could be blamed on the company’s sales miss and softer-than-anticipated comps growth that decelerated on a sequential and year-over-year basis. These factors along with management’s not so impressive view seem to have hurt investors’ sentiments.
The company expects to continue facing cost-related hurdles in fiscal 2019, stemming from higher wages and freight costs, among other factors. Management envisions fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings of $6.93-$7.06 per share, which represents an increase of 10-12% from the year-ago period. However, the mid-point of approximately $7.00 stands below the current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.01.
Let’s Introspect
The company delivered adjusted earnings of $2.83 per share that outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.77 and surged 28% year over year. Higher sales and disciplined cost control seem to have led to the upside.
Burlington Stores, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Net sales advanced 2.8% year over year to $1,991.5 million, though it came below the consensus mark of $2,033 million. Excluding the additional week from last year’s results, net sales increased 7.4%. New and non-comparable stores contributed $173 million to sales. Other revenues came in at $6.6 million, down 11.5% year over year.
We note that comps (on a shifted basis) rose 1.3% in the reported quarter compared with increase of 5.9% in the year-ago period and 4.4% in the preceding quarter. This was the 24th straight quarter of comps growth.
Gross margin (excluding last year’s 53rd week) remained flat year over year as improved merchandise margin was countered by escalated freight costs. Adjusted EBIT grew 4.5% to $261.2 million, while the same rose 7% on exclusion of the additional week last year. Adjusted EBIT margin (excluding the 53rd week) contracted about 10 basis points (bps), owing to deleverage on depreciation and amortization expenses.
Store Update
During the reported quarter, Burlington Stores opened three outlets and shuttered seven. In fiscal 2018, the company inaugurated 68 stores, while it relocated or closed 22 stores. Stores opened in the fourth quarter were former Toys “R” Us locations. The company concluded the quarter with 675 stores.
In fiscal 2019, the company plans to introduce 75 gross stores, and relocate or shutter about 25, thereby projecting 50 net new stores for the fiscal.
Other Financial Aspects
Burlington Stores ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $112.3 million, long-term debt of $983.6 million and shareholders’ equity of $322.7 million. Net capital expenditures for fiscal 2018 were $254 million. For fiscal 2019, the company projects net capital expenditures of roughly $310 million.
During the quarter, the company bought back 353,845 shares for $59 million. At the end of the reported quarter, the company still had $298 million remaining under its share buyback program.
Outlook
For fiscal 2019, management expects total sales to increase 9-10%. Comps growth is anticipated to be 1.5-2.8% compared with 3.2% rise witnessed in fiscal 2018.
Management anticipates adjusted EBIT margin to be flat to 10-bp increase. Further, Burlington Stores projects interest expenses of approximately $53 million for the fiscal year, while effective tax rate is anticipated to be nearly 21%.
The company expects first-quarter fiscal 2019 sales to increase 7-9%, with comps growth anticipated to be flat to 2% increase compared with 4.8% rise witnessed in the year-ago period. The company forecasts adjusted earnings of $1.21-$1.31 per share compared with $1.26 reported in the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $1.27.
Nonetheless, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company is committed toward its long-term strategies, which have been aiding its comps and EBIT margins for a while now.
Zumiez (ZUMZ - Free Report) , also with a Zacks Rank #1, has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 12.5%.
Foot Locker (FL - Free Report) , another Zacks #1 Ranked stock, has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 7.5%.
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Burlington Stores' (BURL) Stock Down Despite Q4 Earnings Beat
Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL - Free Report) delivered fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein both top and bottom lines improved year over year and the latter topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the 21st straight time. However, shares of the company lost close to 12% in yesterday’s trading session. In fact, Burlington Stores has tumbled 8% in the past three months, against the industry’s growth of 8.6%.
Yesterday’s bearish stance could be blamed on the company’s sales miss and softer-than-anticipated comps growth that decelerated on a sequential and year-over-year basis. These factors along with management’s not so impressive view seem to have hurt investors’ sentiments.
The company expects to continue facing cost-related hurdles in fiscal 2019, stemming from higher wages and freight costs, among other factors. Management envisions fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings of $6.93-$7.06 per share, which represents an increase of 10-12% from the year-ago period. However, the mid-point of approximately $7.00 stands below the current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.01.
Let’s Introspect
The company delivered adjusted earnings of $2.83 per share that outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.77 and surged 28% year over year. Higher sales and disciplined cost control seem to have led to the upside.
Burlington Stores, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Burlington Stores, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Burlington Stores, Inc. Quote
Net sales advanced 2.8% year over year to $1,991.5 million, though it came below the consensus mark of $2,033 million. Excluding the additional week from last year’s results, net sales increased 7.4%. New and non-comparable stores contributed $173 million to sales. Other revenues came in at $6.6 million, down 11.5% year over year.
We note that comps (on a shifted basis) rose 1.3% in the reported quarter compared with increase of 5.9% in the year-ago period and 4.4% in the preceding quarter. This was the 24th straight quarter of comps growth.
Gross margin (excluding last year’s 53rd week) remained flat year over year as improved merchandise margin was countered by escalated freight costs. Adjusted EBIT grew 4.5% to $261.2 million, while the same rose 7% on exclusion of the additional week last year. Adjusted EBIT margin (excluding the 53rd week) contracted about 10 basis points (bps), owing to deleverage on depreciation and amortization expenses.
Store Update
During the reported quarter, Burlington Stores opened three outlets and shuttered seven. In fiscal 2018, the company inaugurated 68 stores, while it relocated or closed 22 stores. Stores opened in the fourth quarter were former Toys “R” Us locations. The company concluded the quarter with 675 stores.
In fiscal 2019, the company plans to introduce 75 gross stores, and relocate or shutter about 25, thereby projecting 50 net new stores for the fiscal.
Other Financial Aspects
Burlington Stores ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $112.3 million, long-term debt of $983.6 million and shareholders’ equity of $322.7 million. Net capital expenditures for fiscal 2018 were $254 million. For fiscal 2019, the company projects net capital expenditures of roughly $310 million.
During the quarter, the company bought back 353,845 shares for $59 million. At the end of the reported quarter, the company still had $298 million remaining under its share buyback program.
Outlook
For fiscal 2019, management expects total sales to increase 9-10%. Comps growth is anticipated to be 1.5-2.8% compared with 3.2% rise witnessed in fiscal 2018.
Management anticipates adjusted EBIT margin to be flat to 10-bp increase. Further, Burlington Stores projects interest expenses of approximately $53 million for the fiscal year, while effective tax rate is anticipated to be nearly 21%.
The company expects first-quarter fiscal 2019 sales to increase 7-9%, with comps growth anticipated to be flat to 2% increase compared with 4.8% rise witnessed in the year-ago period. The company forecasts adjusted earnings of $1.21-$1.31 per share compared with $1.26 reported in the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $1.27.
Nonetheless, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company is committed toward its long-term strategies, which have been aiding its comps and EBIT margins for a while now.
Don’t Miss These Solid Retail Bets
Boot Barn Holdings (BOOT - Free Report) , with long-term earnings per share growth rate of 20.7%, flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Zumiez (ZUMZ - Free Report) , also with a Zacks Rank #1, has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 12.5%.
Foot Locker (FL - Free Report) , another Zacks #1 Ranked stock, has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 7.5%.
Today's Best Stocks from Zacks
Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%.
This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year.
See their latest picks free >>