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Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Williams-Sonoma, Inc (WSM - Free Report) is a multi-channel specialty retailer of premium quality home products. Incorporated in 1973, the company has five brands, each of which are operating segments: Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids and Teen, and Other (includes Rejuvenation and Mark and Graham).
Q4 Earnings Recap
Investors cheered Williams-Sonoma’s fourth quarter report, sending shares up 18% the day after the release.
Comparable brand revenue growth surged nearly 26% year-over-year thanks to strength across all of its brands. Namesake Williams-Sonoma saw 26.2% sales growth, Pottery Barn up 25.7%, and West Elm jumped 25.2%.
Online revenue was up almost 48%, with e-commerce penetration making up 70% of revenues.
Adjusted earnings came in at $3.95 per share, easily beating analyst expectations and growing 85% from the prior year.
It wasn’t just these stellar Q4 results. Investors were also rightly excited by WSM’s announcement that it would be increasing its dividend by 11%, as well as a $1 billion stock buyback plan. Shares currently yield about 1.2% on an annual basis.
WSM Breaks Out
In the past six months, shares of WSM have jumped almost 90% compared to the S&P 500’s 20.8% increase. Earnings estimates have been rising too, and WSM is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) right now.
For fiscal 2021, nine analysts have revised their bottom-line estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has moved up $1.78 to $9.37 per share. Earnings are expected to grow over 3.7% compared to the prior year period. Fiscal 2022 looks strong too, and earnings should see positive year-over-year growth as well.
Looking ahead, management forecasts year-over-year revenue growth of mid- to high single digits as well as operating margin expansion; these are both in-line with the company’s long-term goals.
Additionally, WSM received a parade of price target increases post-earnings, and brokerage firm William O’Neil initiated coverage on the stock with a buy rating. This demonstrates confidence that analysts have even as the retailer begins to face tough year-over-year comparisons.
If you’re an investor searching for a retail stock to add to your portfolio, make sure to keep WSM on your shortlist.
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Bull of the Day: Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Williams-Sonoma, Inc (WSM - Free Report) is a multi-channel specialty retailer of premium quality home products. Incorporated in 1973, the company has five brands, each of which are operating segments: Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids and Teen, and Other (includes Rejuvenation and Mark and Graham).
Q4 Earnings Recap
Investors cheered Williams-Sonoma’s fourth quarter report, sending shares up 18% the day after the release.
Comparable brand revenue growth surged nearly 26% year-over-year thanks to strength across all of its brands. Namesake Williams-Sonoma saw 26.2% sales growth, Pottery Barn up 25.7%, and West Elm jumped 25.2%.
Online revenue was up almost 48%, with e-commerce penetration making up 70% of revenues.
Adjusted earnings came in at $3.95 per share, easily beating analyst expectations and growing 85% from the prior year.
It wasn’t just these stellar Q4 results. Investors were also rightly excited by WSM’s announcement that it would be increasing its dividend by 11%, as well as a $1 billion stock buyback plan. Shares currently yield about 1.2% on an annual basis.
WSM Breaks Out
In the past six months, shares of WSM have jumped almost 90% compared to the S&P 500’s 20.8% increase. Earnings estimates have been rising too, and WSM is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) right now.
For fiscal 2021, nine analysts have revised their bottom-line estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has moved up $1.78 to $9.37 per share. Earnings are expected to grow over 3.7% compared to the prior year period. Fiscal 2022 looks strong too, and earnings should see positive year-over-year growth as well.
Looking ahead, management forecasts year-over-year revenue growth of mid- to high single digits as well as operating margin expansion; these are both in-line with the company’s long-term goals.
Additionally, WSM received a parade of price target increases post-earnings, and brokerage firm William O’Neil initiated coverage on the stock with a buy rating. This demonstrates confidence that analysts have even as the retailer begins to face tough year-over-year comparisons.
If you’re an investor searching for a retail stock to add to your portfolio, make sure to keep WSM on your shortlist.
Time to Invest in Legal Marijuana
If you’re looking for big gains, there couldn’t be a better time to get in on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion back in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027.
After a clean sweep of 6 election referendums in 5 states, pot is now legal in 36 states plus D.C. Federal legalization is expected soon and that could be a still greater bonanza for investors. Even before the latest wave of legalization, Zacks Investment Research has recommended pot stocks that have shot up as high as +285.9%
You’re invited to check out Zacks’ Marijuana Moneymakers: An Investor’s Guide. It features a timely Watch List of pot stocks and ETFs with exceptional growth potential.
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