S&P Global Inc. (SPGI - Free Report) reported solid second-quarter 2019 results, wherein the company’s earnings and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Adjusted earnings per share of $2.43 beat the consensus mark by 18 cents and improved 12% year over year on the back of revenue growth and benefits of productivity initiatives. Revenues of $1.70 billion beat the consensus estimate by $68.7 million and improved 6% year over year.
So far this year, shares of S&P Global have gained 44.1%, outperforming the 37.4% rise of the industry it belongs to and 17.4% rise of the Zacks S&P 500 composite.
Segmental Revenues
Ratings revenues of $801 million increased 3% year over year on the back of solid U.S. high-yield issuance. Transaction revenues of $429 million improved 8% as debt rating activity outpaced the decline in bank loan rating activity. Non-transaction revenues declined 1% to $372 million due to a $6 million decline resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.
Market Intelligence revenues were up 8% year over year to $487 million, primarily driven by more than 10% growth in both Credit Risk Solutions and Data Management Solutions and low single-digit growth in Desktop.
Platts revenues increased 4% to $213 million owing to growth in both core subscription business and Global Trading Services.
S&P Dow Jones Indices revenues increased 14% to $235 million driven by gain in asset-linked fees and increase in data & custom subscriptions, partially offset by decline in exchange-traded derivative fees.
Operating Results
Adjusted operating profit increased 11% year over year to $874 million. Adjusted operating profit margin improved 220 basis points (bps) to 51.3%
Segment wise, Ratings adjusted operating profit increased 5% to $467 million. Adjusted operating profit margin improved 120 bps to 58.3%.
For Market Intelligence, adjusted operating profit increased 14% to $167 million. Adjusted operating profit margin increased 180 bps to 34.3%.
Platts’ adjusted operating profit increased 9% to $111 million and adjusted operating profit margin increased 220 basis points to 52.1%.
S&P Dow Jones adjusted operating profit increased 19% to $164 million. Adjusted operating profit margin improved 280 bps to 69.6%.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
S&P Global exited second-quarter 2019 with cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $1.92 billion compared with $1.44 billion at the end of the prior quarter. Long-term debt of $3.66 billion was flat sequentially.
The company generated $717 million of cash from operating activities in the reported quarter. Free cash flow was $650 million. Capital expenditures totaled $26 million.
Share Repurchases & Dividend Payment
During the second quarter of 2019, the company returned $140 million to shareholders through dividends. The $500 million accelerated share repurchase (ASR), which started in early February, continued and there were no open-market share repurchases during the reported quarter. This ASR was completed in late July. The company expects to initiate a new $500 million ASR program, which should continue till December 2019.
2019 Guidance
S&P Global raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance from the range of $8.95-$9.15 to the range of $9.10- $9.25. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.03 is below the guided range.
Zacks Rank & Upcoming Releases
Currently, S&P Global carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Investors interested in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are awaiting second-quarter 2019 earnings of key players like Genpact (G - Free Report) , Green Dot (GDOT - Free Report) and Navigant Consulting (NCI - Free Report) . While Genpact and Green Dot are slated to report on Aug 7, Navigant Consulting is scheduled to release results on Aug 8.
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S&P Global Inc. (SPGI - Free Report) reported solid second-quarter 2019 results, wherein the company’s earnings and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Adjusted earnings per share of $2.43 beat the consensus mark by 18 cents and improved 12% year over year on the back of revenue growth and benefits of productivity initiatives. Revenues of $1.70 billion beat the consensus estimate by $68.7 million and improved 6% year over year.
So far this year, shares of S&P Global have gained 44.1%, outperforming the 37.4% rise of the industry it belongs to and 17.4% rise of the Zacks S&P 500 composite.
Segmental Revenues
Ratings revenues of $801 million increased 3% year over year on the back of solid U.S. high-yield issuance. Transaction revenues of $429 million improved 8% as debt rating activity outpaced the decline in bank loan rating activity. Non-transaction revenues declined 1% to $372 million due to a $6 million decline resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.
Market Intelligence revenues were up 8% year over year to $487 million, primarily driven by more than 10% growth in both Credit Risk Solutions and Data Management Solutions and low single-digit growth in Desktop.
Platts revenues increased 4% to $213 million owing to growth in both core subscription business and Global Trading Services.
S&P Dow Jones Indices revenues increased 14% to $235 million driven by gain in asset-linked fees and increase in data & custom subscriptions, partially offset by decline in exchange-traded derivative fees.
Operating Results
Adjusted operating profit increased 11% year over year to $874 million. Adjusted operating profit margin improved 220 basis points (bps) to 51.3%
Segment wise, Ratings adjusted operating profit increased 5% to $467 million. Adjusted operating profit margin improved 120 bps to 58.3%.
For Market Intelligence, adjusted operating profit increased 14% to $167 million. Adjusted operating profit margin increased 180 bps to 34.3%.
Platts’ adjusted operating profit increased 9% to $111 million and adjusted operating profit margin increased 220 basis points to 52.1%.
S&P Dow Jones adjusted operating profit increased 19% to $164 million. Adjusted operating profit margin improved 280 bps to 69.6%.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
S&P Global exited second-quarter 2019 with cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $1.92 billion compared with $1.44 billion at the end of the prior quarter. Long-term debt of $3.66 billion was flat sequentially.
The company generated $717 million of cash from operating activities in the reported quarter. Free cash flow was $650 million. Capital expenditures totaled $26 million.
Share Repurchases & Dividend Payment
During the second quarter of 2019, the company returned $140 million to shareholders through dividends. The $500 million accelerated share repurchase (ASR), which started in early February, continued and there were no open-market share repurchases during the reported quarter. This ASR was completed in late July. The company expects to initiate a new $500 million ASR program, which should continue till December 2019.
2019 Guidance
S&P Global raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance from the range of $8.95-$9.15 to the range of $9.10- $9.25. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.03 is below the guided range.
Zacks Rank & Upcoming Releases
Currently, S&P Global carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Investors interested in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are awaiting second-quarter 2019 earnings of key players like Genpact (G - Free Report) , Green Dot (GDOT - Free Report) and Navigant Consulting (NCI - Free Report) . While Genpact and Green Dot are slated to report on Aug 7, Navigant Consulting is scheduled to release results on Aug 8.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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